Man charged in West Side murder of 7-year-old Jaslyn Adams

Police investigate the crime scene 7-year-old Jaslyn Adams was fatally shot April 18 at a McDonald’s drive-thru near Roosevelt Road and Kedzie. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Chicago police on Saturday announced murder charges against a man allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl at a West Side McDonald’s drive-thru last weekend, days before officers shot him during a wild chase that ended with his arrest in the middle of rush-hour traffic on the Eisenhower Expressway.

Marion Lewis, 18, faces counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and a litany of other felony charges following the April 18 death of the little girl, Jaslyn Adams.

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said Lewis was “involved” in the shooting but wouldn’t say if the young man pulled the trigger. Investigators are still looking for an unspecified number of other suspects in connection with “this horrific crime,” Brown said.

“You can run, but you cannot hide. We are going to bring you to justice for this crime,” he said. “The Adams family deserves nothing less.”

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown speaks at a Saturday news conference announcing charges in the murder of Jaslyn Adams.

After a draining six days, Jaslyn’s grandmother LaWanda McMullen said she was “overwhelmed” and “overjoyed” to hear the news that someone was charged in connection with her granddaughter’s death.

“I’m happy they made the arrest. I hope it’s the right person that they have. I hope he talks and gives up the next person that is involved,” McMullen told the Sun-Times. “We just need a full-on investigation.”

Jaslyn was fatally shot last Sunday afternoon as she and her father were getting food at a McDonald’s drive-thru near Roosevelt Road and Kedzie Avenue in the Homan Square neighborhood. Her father, Jontae Adams, was shot once in the torso and has since been released from Stroger Hospital.

Police said the shooting that killed Jaslyn was gang-related and was thought to be tied to another shooting that wounded two people a few hours later at a Popeyes restaurant in Humboldt Park.

Jaslyn Adams.

At a vigil for Jaslyn Wednesday evening, Jontae Adams demanded justice for his little girl.

“I want justice for my baby,” he said. “I want my baby’s killers in jail.”

About 4 p.m. the next day, Chicago police officers tried to pull over a vehicle on the inbound Eisenhower Expressway driven by a man they suspected in Jaslyn’s death.

The suspect, identified Saturday as Lewis, crashed on the shoulder near Mannheim Road and tried to carjack another vehicle with a family of four inside, police said. An officer shot Lewis when he reached for a gun that was visibly sitting on the man’s lap as he sat in the driver’s seat, according to police sources.

Lewis is expected to have his initial court hearing on the charges Sunday.

Investigators recovered two weapons from Lewis’ car, including an AK-47 with a pistol grip. Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said those guns “tested positive” as the weapons that killed Jaslyn and wounded her father.

Chicago police and Illinois State Police investigate after a suspect was shot by an officer Thursday on inbound Interstate 290 near Mannheim Road.

Jaslyn was a student at Cameron Elementary School. She was nicknamed Pinky “because she was bright” and pink was her favorite color, family members said.

In an online fundraiser, titled “Tiktok in Paradise Pinky,” Jaslyn’s mother, Lanesha Walker, thanked people for their support following the tragedy.

“My seven year old daughter ‘Pinky’ was an absolute blessing,” Walker wrote. “I will forever love her and continue the legacy she has left behind.”