Ill. prosecutors tell judge Wis. man confessed to killing pregnant wife, infant son, 2 nieces
By APFriday, April 16, 2010
Prosecutors: Wis. man confessed to fatal shootings
CHICAGO — A Wisconsin man suspected in the shooting deaths of his pregnant wife, infant son and two nieces in their Chicago home told police he committed the crimes, prosecutors said Friday.
James Larry, 32, of Madison, Wis., gave a videotaped confession and led police to where he dropped the handgun after Wednesday morning’s shootings, prosecutors told a judge during a brief hearing in which Larry was ordered held without bond.
Larry kept his head down during the hearing, saying only “Yes, ma’am,” when the judge asked him questions.
The judge also ordered Larry transferred to the county jail’s medical unit for mental health treatment. Larry’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Julie Koehler, said he needed treatment and had been under a doctor’s care for mental health problems for eight years.
Koehler described Larry as “very, very emotional and upset” and said he kept his head down during the hearing because he was crying.
Larry was arrested after the Wednesday morning shootings on Chicago’s southwest side and charged Thursday night with four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child. Along with his wife, his 16-year-old niece was pregnant.
Larry told police after his arrest that he heard voices encouraging him to kill his family and was sorry he had run out of bullets, a person close to the investigation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the investigation.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office has identified the shooting victims as Larry’s 19-year-old wife, Tawanda Thompson, their 7-month-old son, Jihad Larry, and Larry’s two nieces, 3-year-old Keleasha Larry and 16-year-old Keyshai Fields. Larry’s mother and nephew were wounded but survived.
Associated Press Writer Don Babwin in Chicago contributed to this report.
