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A suburban man was sentenced 80 years in prison for murdering his former girlfriend and leaving her boyfriend permanently disabled after shooting them in a south side apartment in Chicago in 2008, according to the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Deandre Crawford, 32, of Ford Heights was convicted by a jury earlier this year of First Degree Murder for shooting and killing 27-year-old Elena Anderson, and Attempted First Degree Murder for shooting her 33- year-old boyfriend, leaving him permanently paralyzed.

According to prosecutors, Anderson and Crawford have a child together.  On the morning of February 12, 2008 at 6722 S. Halsted, the defendant came to Anderson’s apartment to see their child.  Crawford wanted to take the child with him, but Anderson refused and an argument ensued.  Anderson’s boyfriend later arrives at the apartment and sees the defendant and Anderson arguing in the living room. The boyfriend does not intervene and goes into a bedroom with Anderson’s two children.

Crawford then follows the boyfriend into the bedroom and shoots him five times in the face, chest and shoulder in front of the children.   Next, Crawford goes back into the living room and shoots Anderson two times in the chest and then flees from the apartment.  Anderson is able to call 911 and identifies Crawford as the person who shot both her and her boyfriend.

According to prosecutors, police arrive at the scene, and Anderson makes a declaration to the officers again naming Crawford as the shooter.   Anderson is taken to the hospital where she later died.  Anderson’s boyfriend was severely wounded and today remains paralyzed as a result of the shooting. 

Cook County Judge Neera Walsh sentenced Crawford to the 80 year prison term during a court hearing on Monday.   Crawford was convicted after a jury trial in May.

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys, Mary Anna Planey and Nina Ricci for their handling of the case.

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