Violent crime has taken the life of a young Chicago mother, this time leaving newborn twins without either parent. Crystal Crockett was shot and killed, and her boyfriend, Elijah Clippard, is the suspect.
Crockett, 21, was only three months postpartum when she was allegedly shot by Clippard. He is the father of the twins.
Prosecutors say the suspect allegedly shot the young woman in an alley in Chicago’s South Side on June 15. Crockett had given birth to the couple’s daughters on March 21. The babies are still in the NICU at Rush University Medical Center, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
The suspect was captured on hospital video driving Crockett around the day before. Surveillance from early the next morning showed him getting out of the car with a gun before shooting her several times.
As Crockett tried to escape, she was shot several more times. Her killer even turned back to continue shooting as he fled, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The young mother’s family spoke to the media on Sunday to express their desire for justice to be served.
“My daughter did not deserve this. I want the killer to go to jail forever,” said Kylia Robinson, Crockett’s mother.
Nivea Crockett, the victim’s sister, said that she was happy to be a mother and loved taking care of others. In fact, at the time of her murder, she was only two years away from a nursing degree at Malcolm X College.
According to activist Andrew Holmes, her twins, Iyla and Italy, got a visit from their mother every day.
None of the family members knew the man responsible for Crockett’s murder well, although they had dated for over a year.
This incident is one of many that has caused violent crime rates in Chicago to rise in the first half of 2021.
Elijah Clippard was arrested at home on Wednesday and is being held without bond until his July 14 court date.
