Authorities say the victims were the suspect’s mother and her partner; a young child was found unharmed in the home.
RICHTON PARK, Ill. — A 21-year-old man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after police found his mother and her boyfriend fatally shot inside a Richton Park apartment on Dec. 27, authorities said.
Police and fire crews were dispatched about 6:37 p.m. to the 22400 block of Richton Square Road after a report of shots fired and determined the gunfire occurred at an apartment in the 22500 block of Jackson Court. Officers discovered two adults unresponsive inside the unit; both were pronounced dead at the scene. A small child was located in the home, assessed by fire personnel and later released to a parent at the police station. Investigators detained a man nearby within minutes and notified the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Formal charges were approved two days later as detectives and state police processed the apartment for evidence.
Officials identified the suspect as Javonte T. Morris, 21. Prosecutors said the victims were Morris’s mother, 38-year-old Nivia Phillips, and her partner, 45-year-old Marcus Jones. In a court proffer, prosecutors alleged recent arguments in the home, including threats reported via text and phone calls shortly before the shooting. Police said Morris also dialed 911 around the time of the incident to report a shooting. Officers recovered multiple shell casings in a bedroom and a .380-caliber handgun in the living room. A child inside the apartment told investigators the shooting happened during an argument, according to authorities. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has not publicly released full autopsy details.
Richton Park officials said the investigation began with officers canvassing Jackson Court and surrounding streets for witnesses and video. The Illinois State Police processed the scene and collected a firearm. Detectives interviewed a man found on a nearby street who they determined had been inside the apartment at the time. He was detained for questioning and later booked on the murder charges. Village officials publicly thanked state and county partners for assistance and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Police did not report any injuries to the child and said no officers fired their weapons during the response.
Records indicate the case moved quickly after the State’s Attorney’s Felony Review Unit approved two counts of first-degree murder on Dec. 29. Morris was processed at the Richton Park Police Department and transferred to the Cook County Jail. A judge set the next court date for Jan. 21 in Markham. Authorities have not announced additional charges related to the presence of a child, and no other arrests were reported as of Wednesday. Investigators did not describe prior calls for service at the address and did not release a motive beyond the arguments summarized in prosecutors’ filings.
Neighbors told local reporters they heard sirens and saw police block off Jackson Court as investigators went door to door seeking video. One resident called Phillips “a good lady” and said the family had lived there for a short time. The complex remained quiet Tuesday evening, with a patrol car passing the cluster of low-rise buildings and a light wind moving through the courtyard. A small pile of stuffed animals and candles appeared outside an entrance as night fell.
As of Wednesday, Morris remained in custody at Cook County Jail, and police said the apartment was released back to management after processing. Detectives are continuing to review 911 recordings, witness statements and ballistics testing ahead of the hearing scheduled for Jan. 21.
Author note: Last updated January 1, 2026.