A 22-year-old man from the South Side of Chicago has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend, committing the act in view of several witnesses while he was released on pretrial felony conditions. The accused, Xavier Tousant, becomes the 14th individual this year to face murder or attempted murder charges while awaiting trial for another felony offense.
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara, Tousant and the victim, identified as Dean, had been in a relationship for approximately three months. Tensions escalated on the night of June 27, when Dean, accompanied by a friend, arrived at Tousant’s apartment building located in the 5400 block of South Prairie with intentions to confront him.
During their dispute, Dean made several calls to Tousant, threatening to damage his belongings if he did not come outside. When he finally did emerge, he was brandishing a 9mm “Uzi-style” handgun equipped with an extended magazine, Pekara reported.
Sparking alarm among onlookers, Dean’s companion observed Dean raise her hands in a defensive posture before Tousant allegedly struck her with the gun. Witnesses, including three teenagers aged between 13 and 15, recalled seeing the incident, with one teen reporting that Tousant pistol-whipped Dean before shooting her.
After the attack, Dean’s friend checked on her condition but fled when Tousant reappeared, according to Pekara. Initial 911 calls failed to locate Dean; however, around 15 minutes later, another caller found her unresponsive in the 5400 block of South Prairie. Notably, this block had previously been monitored by the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, which was shut down by the mayor a year prior.
Police discovered Dean’s body in a vacant lot, alongside a canister of mace and a shell casing positioned a short distance away. A preliminary analysis suggested that the bullet had passed through Dean’s palm, indicating a defensive position, before fatally striking her head.
Witnesses also reported seeing Tousant dispose of black garbage bags into a nearby trash can before driving away in a white Jeep Cherokee. Authorities recovered an extended magazine and the firearm used in the murder from the trash, linking it directly to Tousant through matching shell casings and a fingerprint found on the weapon.
Additionally, a Facebook video posted by Tousant just nine days earlier showcased him handling the same gun and magazine.
Court records reveal that Tousant has a troubling history, including three prior felony gun convictions from 2020, 2021, and 2022, along with pending cases for drug-related offenses and resisting police, both stemming from incidents in October 2024.
In light of the gravity of the charges, Judge Luciano Panici Jr. has ordered Tousant to be held in detention while facing first-degree murder charges.
The “Not Horrible” Series
This report is part of an ongoing series examining individuals who have been charged with murder or attempted murder while on pretrial release for felony charges. Initiated in November 2019 after a statement from Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, this series highlights concerns surrounding the potential risks associated with court bond reforms.
Statistics suggest that the actual number of homicides and shootings committed by individuals awaiting felony trials is significantly underestimated. Since 2017, the Chicago Police Department has filed charges in less than 5% of non-fatal shootings and only 33% of homicide cases, emphasizing the need for further scrutiny.
For more details and stories in the “Not Horrible” series, click here.
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Tim Hecke is the managing partner at CWBChicago, where he has been providing innovative news coverage since 2019. With an extensive background in radio and digital media, Tim has contributed to major news outlets across the United States and remains dedicated to in-depth journalism.
For inquiries, Tim can be reached at tim@cwbchicago.com.
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