Brother of Deceased Woman Charged with Attempted Murder

The brother of Zenobia Weatherspoon, who was found dead in a garbage can earlier this month, is now facing an attempted murder charge. Javan Weatherspoon, 34, was arrested and charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, according to Chicago police. His arrest follows the disappearance and death of his sister, Zenobia Weatherspoon, whose body was discovered in an alley in Back of the Yards on the city’s South Side.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet determined Zenobia Weatherspoon’s official cause of death, and her death remains under investigation. Zenobia Weatherspoon, aged 38, was reported missing on July 10, and there have been no updates in her case as of Thursday afternoon.

Prosecutors presented their case against Javan Weatherspoon on Thursday before Judge Luciano Panici Jr. at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. They alleged that he shot a 45-year-old woman, accusing her of having knowledge about his sister’s fate. Surveillance footage reportedly showed the woman standing in a parking lot in the 5400 block of South Halsted Street, New City neighborhood, on Sunday afternoon. Javan Weatherspoon allegedly approached her after exiting a nearby liquor store, yelling accusations.

Testimonies revealed that the woman was a friend of Zenobia Weatherspoon and was among those who discovered her body. Javan Weatherspoon had repeatedly accused her of knowing details about his sister’s death. Despite the woman’s denial of any further knowledge, prosecutors said Weatherspoon struck her with a firearm, causing her to fall. He then shot her in the left pelvic area and later fired a second shot, which did not hit her, before leaving the scene.

A witness called 911, and the woman was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. She suffered a gunshot wound to her left hip and a head fracture. Police recovered a .22-caliber shell casing at the site.

Javan Weatherspoon was arrested on Wednesday at his residence in the 800 block of West 54th Place. He remains held pending trial with his next court appearance set for July 29. The Cook County public defender’s office has assigned an assistant public defender to represent him, emphasizing that current allegations may change as investigations continue.

Attempts to reach Weatherspoon’s family for comment were unsuccessful.