Man Charged with Murder, Attempted Murder, and Aggravated Kidnapping for Ford Heights Slayings

Sep 24, 2021Press Release

COOK COUNTY, IL – A Ford Heights man is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing today on charges of murder, attempted murder, and aggravated kidnapping for a shooting last weekend that left two men dead and injured another, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.

At around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Sheriff’s Police responded to a report of shots fired in the 1400 block of Embassy Lane as well as a report of a gunshot victim in the 1000 block of Lexington Circle in Ford Heights.

Upon arrival at the Lexington address, Officers found 29-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his head. The victim was conscious and was subsequently transported to Franciscan Health Dyer in Dyer, IN.

While at the Lexington address, Officers were notified that another gunshot victim was found at the 1421 Embassy Lane. Upon arrival, Officers found Leon Franklin, 41, the resident of the home, unconscious on the ground near the residence and also found Lester Jackson, 37, of the 1400 block of East 15th Street in Ford Heights, unconscious inside the home. Both men suffered gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Further investigation revealed that the offender, Montez Fulwiley, 30, of the 1300 Block of Berkeley in Ford Heights, held a woman at gunpoint inside the home just prior to the shooting.

Fulwiley was arrested by Sheriff’s Police on Wednesday and subsequently charged with two counts of First-Degree Murder, one count of Attempt Murder, and one count of Aggravated Kidnapping/Armed with Firearm. He is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing today in the Markham Courthouse.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.