4-Year-Old Calls 911 After Seeing Mom Murdered
Suspect Allegedly Steals Car, Rapes Driver, Kills Himself
POSTED: 9:40 a.m. EST January 12, 2004
UPDATED: 10:30 a.m. EST January 12, 2004
CHICAGO -- Authorities say a 4-year-old witnessed his mother's death Thursday morning, and he called 911 to tell police what happened.
Amy Johnson, 24, a mother of three children, was shot to death in her home.
The boy and two younger children, a 2-year-old and 1-year-old, reportedly saw their mother's slaying.
Police said the 4-year-old, whom they called "very articulate, very bright," led them to the bedroom Thursday where his mother lay dead was able to give them details of the killing.
The 4-year-old reportedly told the 911 dispatcher his mom was shot by her boyfriend. Police issued a statewide all-points bulletin for Johnson's boyfriend, 32-year old Tyrone Corbett.
In November, police arrested Corbett for abusing Johnson. Police said family told Johnson to get away from him, but she didn't.
Corbett ended up killing himself Friday night after a police chase.
Corbett was spotted behind the wheel of a stolen car, which he allegedly carjacked after raping the female driver, and police chased him along Cicero Avenue, in Chicago, before the chase ended at about 10:45 p.m. The victim of that carjacking was taken to a hospital for treatment.
After chasing Corbett, police cornered him, but he refused to get out of the car, authorities said, and he killed himself rather than turn himself in.
"It appears in the last 24 hours during that manhunt (for Corbett), he committed several other crimes, including kidnapping, rape and car theft, to name a few," Dolton village spokesman Sean Howard said. "This horrible tragedy is now over, and maybe the healing process can begin for Ms. Johnson's three children."
"According to relatives, he threatened to kill (Johnson) on numerous occasions," police said.
Last November, Corbett, (pictured, right) was arrested on domestic battery charges for assaulting Johnson, (pictured, above left) but Johnson did not ask for a restraining order.
Friday morning, police recovered Corbett's red 2002 Ford Expedition in Chicago, after someone recognized the car from a picture shown on a morning news show and called Dolton police.
Corbett lived with Johnson at the Evers Street address for about a year, when Johnson moved from Chicago to Dolton, Ill.
Corbett was spotted behind the wheel of a stolen car, which he allegedly carjacked after raping the female driver, and police chased him along Cicero Avenue, in Chicago, before the chase ended at about 10:45 p.m. The victim of that carjacking was taken to a hospital for treatment.
After chasing Corbett, police cornered him, but he refused to get out of the car, authorities said, and he killed himself rather than turn himself in.
"It appears in the last 24 hours during that manhunt (for Corbett), he committed several other crimes, including kidnapping, rape and car theft, to name a few," Dolton village spokesman Sean Howard said. "This horrible tragedy is now over, and maybe the healing process can begin for Ms. Johnson's three children."
"According to relatives, he threatened to kill (Johnson) on numerous occasions," police said.
Last November, Corbett, (pictured, right) was arrested on domestic battery charges for assaulting Johnson, (pictured, above left) but Johnson did not ask for a restraining order.
Friday morning, police recovered Corbett's red 2002 Ford Expedition in Chicago, after someone recognized the car from a picture shown on a morning news show and called Dolton police.
Corbett lived with Johnson at the Evers Street address for about a year, when Johnson moved from Chicago to Dolton, Ill.Copyright 2004 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
