An 11-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in Chicago as he tried to protect his pregnant mom from her "abusive ex-boyfriend."
Crosetti Brand, 37, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in connection with the deadly attack on Wednesday. Jayden Perkins was killed in the harrowing incident and his mother, Laterria Smith, was left in critical condition, ABC 7 reports.
Brand was Smith's ex-partner and was on parole after he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for a home invasion.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said that Brand was released on parole just a day before the knife attack.
According to Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, the youngster passed away from a stab wound to the chest while trying to protect his mother from her allegedly abusive ex on Wednesday morning.
Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti revealed in a press conference that Brand was "paroled and placed on electronic monitoring last October."
"While he was on parole, he threatened the female victim via text and also showed up at her home. He was sent back to prison in February for this parole violation."
Smith had an order of protection against Brand prior to Wednesday's attack after he repeatedly threatened and attacked her and her mother, according to a motion filed by prosecutors in an unrelated case.
The abusive behavior is said to have begun in September 2006 after Smith ended her relationship with him. The suspect arrived at her house and threatened her with a firearm, pulling the trigger in the hallway before making his way out of the property.
Brand reportedly went on to harass the family, throwing rocks at their home and repeatedly calling them. Two years after the split, he is said to have punched the mother at a bus stop for being a relationship with someone else.
A neighbor, who requested anonymity, said Perkins had a younger brother (aged five), and lived in the complex with her partner.
She told the Chicago Tribune that her sister had heard screaming coming from an apartment.
A fundraiser has been set up in support of the victim's family during this time. It has raised $101,940.00 at the time of writing.
Aside from the murder and attempted murder charges, Brand has also been charged with three counts of home invasion with a dangerous weapon, one count of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of aggravated domestic battery, one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, one count of violation of a prior order of protection and one issuance of a warrant for a parole violation.
A vigil for Perkins was held by neighbors on Thursday outside the apartment complex.
"No one can replace him. No one can take his place," Perkins' friend Alexis Perez told local ABC affiliate WLS.
"He's the kindest, trustworthy friend you could probably ever ask for," Perkins' friend 12-year-old Nathaniel Vodak told the outlet.
