Second person detained in murder of retired Chicago Police officer as his funeral is held

CHICAGO (CBS) — A 17-year-old boy was charged as an adult and ordered detained Saturday int he murder of a retired police officer on Chicago's West Side last week.

Meanwhile, the retired officer, Larry Neuman, 73, was laid to rest on Saturday.

Police arrested Marquan Jones, 17, on Thursday in the 2400 block of East 75th Street. He was charged as an adult Friday with one felony count of first-degree murder and one felony count of murder with a strong probability of death/injury.

Jones was ordered detained at an initial hearing in Cook County Criminal Court on Saturday.

The charges come just days after the first suspect in Neuman's murder, Lazarius Watt, 16, turned himself in. He was charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the shooting that killed Neuman and was ordered detained on Tuesday. Watt is due back in court on July 16 for a preliminary hearing in Violence Court. 

Neuman was shot around 11:30 a.m. last Thursday, June 20, in the 4300 block of West Monroe Street in West Garfield Park. Neighbors said they heard five or six shots, according to police. 

Prosecutors during Watt's hearing said at the time, Neuman was mowing his lawn with a worker when two people wearing ski masks approached. Both suspects had guns. 

The second assailant approached him and was only feet away when he said, "Freeze!" and reached to grab Neuman, prosecutors said. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti said Neuman pushed the worker out of the way as the attackers approached. He backed up and reached for his own gun when he was shot. 

Neuman did fire a single round for his own gun but fell to the ground, prosecutors said.

Police were called and rushed to the scene, where they found Neuman lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, including to his chest and leg. He died of his injuries.

Jones was also charged in connection to an armed robbery of a 21-year-old man in the 4100 block of West Jackson Boulevard back in November. 

He is due back in court on Tuesday of next week. Watt is due back in court on July 17.

Remembering an officer, reverend, patriarch, and pillar of the community

Neuman was a U.S. Marine and a Vietnam War veteran who, when he retired, was the longest-serving explosives technician with the Chicago Police Department. He served 28 years with the department.

He became a pastor who was outspoken about violence in Chicago neighborhoods and worked with young people to create a safe environment.

His funeral was held Saturday at St. Michael Missionary Baptist Church, 4106 W. Monroe St. One measure of Neuman's impact on life was that so many people attended the funeral that there was little parking to be found.

"Reverend Neuman's a loved man. He was a Marine, a retired police officer, TSA—but most important, he was a reverend at the church," said Neuman's friend, Harry Green.

Another friend, Kim Bass, was shocked by how Neuman was targeted.

"Mr. Larry was such a good guy," Bass said. "I wouldn't even see why anybody would want to hurt Mr. Larry."

At Neuman's funeral, Pastor Scott Onque of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church lamented the choices of the two suspects in the retired officer's murder.

"Two young men that have been accused of it, 16 and 17, their lives will be ruined," Onque said. "This community is shaken."

At the visitation for Neuman at the same church the day before, heavy hearts were met with tears and somber faces.

"There's no question that it's a hole that will be very difficult to feel," said Ald. Jason Ervin (28th). "It's very rare that you find a retired police officer that's a reverend living in West Garfield Park. This is an anomaly."

Ald. Ervin was among those in attendance at the visitation Friday.

"It's a tough time," Ervin said, "to lose the patriarch of the family you got children, grandchildren, a wife, and unexpectedly—it's difficult."

For more than 30 years, Ervin called Neuman a friend—as he was to many in his community.

"Rev knew lots of people in this community, so there weren't many strangers there," Ervin said. "But again, we're all mourning that loss, and again that's a hole in a heart that's hard to fill—and a hole in the community that will be equally as difficult to fill."

It was at St. Michael Missionary Baptist where Neuman sat at the pulpit as a reverend.

"We have to honor his legacy. And we will continue to do that beyond tomorrow," Ervin said. "The work that he did in the community, the work his church did in the community—so we'll continue to honor that legacy that he's left."