A 29-year-old man, Ed Rush, was sentenced to 50 years in prison by a Cook County judge for the murder of Rayveon Hutchins, a romantic rival. Rush was on electronic monitoring for a gun case and out on bail for allegedly battering a Chicago police officer when he committed the murder in November 2019.
The jury convicted Rush of murder on May 26, 2023, for shooting Hutchins multiple times in the head, back, and side while he was standing outside his car in the 1200 block of South Throop. A security guard at a CHA housing complex found Hutchins in the parking lot and called 911.
Surveillance footage captured the gunman leaving a nearby home, committing the murder, and returning to the same residence. Investigators discovered that Rush lived at that home, and electronic monitoring records showed that he left for approximately 90 seconds around the time of the killing.
Three days after the shooting, a search warrant executed at Rush’s home led to the recovery of the murder weapon and a jacket that a witness recalled seeing Rush wear after the crime. Gunshot residue was found on the garment, and a woman testified that the firearm belonged to her and was kept at Rush’s apartment due to having children at her own home.
During the trial, Rush’s ex-girlfriend testified that she had obtained a protective order against him after he found out she was dating Hutchins. The trial was presided over by Judge Lawrence Flood, who retired shortly after the jury’s verdict. Judge Nicholas Kantas took over and handled post-trial motions for nearly two years before sentencing Rush to 50 years in prison.
According to state law, Rush must serve 100% of his sentence. He has already earned nearly six years of credit by being in jail before and after the trial. This case serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences of violence and the importance of accountability in the justice system.
