Father Who Shot Drug Dealer Acquitted Of Murder

July 15, 2011 8:26 PM

Elliot Mayfield was found not guilty of murder during a bench trial. (Sun-Times Media Wire)

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Drug Dealer, Elliot Mayfield, Murder, Not guilty

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CHICAGO (STMW) — South Side drug rehabilitation counselor charged with murder for shooting a man who tried to sell him narcotics in front of his children last year was found not guilty on Friday.

Elliot G. Mayfield, 51, of the 6000 block of South Calumet was found not guilty of murder by Judge Maura Slattery-Boyle, according to Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman Andy Conklin.

On Feb. 7, 2010, Mayfield, a drug user turned counselor, was with his 11-year-old daughter, a 15-year-old stepdaughter and a friend when he shot Samuel Fullilove at a Woodlawn bus stop, prosecutors charged.

Mayfield was talking to another man, a former co-worker and client, at the bus stop at 6114 S. Martin Luther King Drive when Fullilove approached and tried to sell him drugs.

Mayfield, who had a 1990 drug conviction, refused and said, “I don’t do that anymore. I am just trying to make sure that my daughters get home safely,” a police report said.

But Fullilove,33, started yelling and taunting the older man, even taking a swing at Mayfield, though he didn’t make contact.

Fullilove also got into one of “his daughter’s faces,’’ the report said, and Mayfield became angry.

Fullilove chased Mayfield and his daughter cried, “Leave my daddy alone,” and Mayfield eventually pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Fullilove’s face, the report said.

When the taunts continued, Mayfield shot Fullilove in the chest, then fled with the girls in the car of the former client he had been talking to.

Mayfield later called police and told them where he could be found, and also showed officers where he hid the .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun, the police report said.

Fullilove had an extensive criminal history, according to court records.

Father Who Shot Drug Dealer Acquitted Of Murder

Mr. Justice

Great job! Glad he did what he had to do to protect himself and his family. What is interesting though, is he doesn’t appear to be charged with the unlawful use of a weapon. This is a classic example why Conceal Carry is a good idea in the state of Illinois. Be safe everyone!

Vince

Absolutely.
carry now be safe later

EXACTLY

Tom

Good for Mayfield. Instead of putting him on trial, he should have been given a key to the City for his good work. Right On Mayfield!

Vince

Again,Absolutely.

NIZZER

I’LL vote for him to be mayor, finally a man with GUTS. I guarentee you he will never be approached by a drug dealer that recognizes him.
Dallas D

I love Elliott!!! I told all those sucka’s he was going to be vindicated. He was 100 % right in what he did. Any upstanding Father would protect his daughters by any means necessary. I thank God that the jurors and the judge saw it the same way. I am so happy. He DOES deserve the key to the city of Chicago! If more people stood up to these punks instead of being afraid, maybe so much of this crime would be non-existent. This is a wake up call. People stand up and stop being afraid. Elliot wasn’t! He is a Hero!!! Thank you God, Thank you!!!

Gregory Lewis

THAT IS WHY THEY DON’T WANT US CARING GUNS. INSTEAD OF HERO’S THEY WANT 2 CLASS OF BLACKMEN CRIMINALS and VICTIMS.

Just Axin

This is good news, though you just hope whitey would be given the same treatment by the state’s atty and judge.

Dave

WHAT??

Concerned Citizen

Murder is murder, he killed someone. It doesn’t matter how it was done, its that he killed the guy and he got mercy because he says he did it to protect his children?

Is this the lesson we need to be teaching people? Its ok to kill if they are bad guys?
He should be rotting in prison for the rest of his life.

Gregory Lewis

I STRONGLY DISAGREE. ON THE ACCOUNT OF WITNESSES YES I HOPE THIS IS THE LESSON THAT MY CHILDREN GET. THOSE WHO ARE A BLIGHT TO SOCIETY OUGHT NOT TO BE. BY KILLING THIS TYPE OF PERSON YOU PROVIDE A BETTER LIFE FOR THOSE WHO JUST WANT TO BE,YOU PROVIDE A MORE INTELLIGENT GROUP OF PEOPLE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BREED WITH, YOU CREATE A BETTER SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. YES I HOPE OUR CHILDREN DO LEARN FROM THIS. AS YOUR BIBLE AND THE GREAT WISE KING SOLEMAN SAID ” … a time to kill..”

Gregory Lewis

AND FURTHER MORE I SURE HOPE THEY GAVE THAT MAN HIS WEAPON BACK. WE HAVE A BLACK COMMUNITY WHO NEEDS HIM AND MORE OF THE LIKES OF HIM.
NWA

You are a nut case! The African-American communities don’t need any more fools, and this jerk is a fool. This doper was out looking for trouble. Let’s not forget. This fool was walking around strapped and loaded with his children. He should have walked it off and call the po po.

S.O.S.

Tom

Just because one person kills another doesn’t make it murder. If a cop kills a guys threatening him with a knife, is that murder? If some fool kicks down the door of your house at 2:00 a.m. and he’s waving a gun around and you shoot and kill him, is that murder? And to answer your question, is this the lesson we need to be teaching people? Yes it is. Because if other dope dealers, rapists, robbers, blah blah blah think this could happen to them, they might, just might, leave the rest of them alone, so yes. Lesson learned.
NIZZER

Hey concerned, do you have ANY idea how many people were killed to allow you and me the freedom that we and our families have today? I think you are just typical of the liberals that conveniently forget our countries history.
Bob McKay

Hey, Concerned… Do you understand the difference between manslaughter and murder? I didn’t think so. You might want to head back to law school for a refreshed course, Mr. Expert…

Concerned Citizen

He is a vigilante and that is unacceptable, he should be in prison.

MSE

I would like to see how you would have handled the situation with a heartless/ruthless street thug…in that neck of the woods its kill or be killed..I guess you think he should have allowed the guy to harm him and his girls. It’s called self defense in case you never heard the term
Thinking quickly

If this was you, and your family. I suppose then it would have been OK. I would have defended my children…anyday of the week. If you don’t want to get burned, don’t play with fire. Oh, and by the way, Mr,vigilante (who is not) NICE JOB saving you and your childrens lives.Concerned Cititzen, look up “self defense”.
PK

Well, unless the definition of a vigilante has changed, I’d say you are wrong. The man was with his kids minding their own business when the offender approached them and offered to sell them drugs. They guy should have kept on walking but HE chose to turn around and escalate the situation by attempting to hit the man.

Self defense plain and simple!

What would YOU have done in that situation?
Mr. Justice

@ Concerned Citizen………I think you are wrong in this case. People, black or white, need to stand up and protect themselves, their families, and their property. When crime happens, once cannot wait for the cops to arrive. One must act quickly. He did what was Right. Just remember, when SECONDS count, the police are only a few MINUTES away. It is also interesting to point out, that he is not being charged with having a hand gun in the city of Chicago.

krissy

FINALLY ….THANKS DAD!! WE HAVE TO DO THE COPS JOB..WHILE THEY SIT ON THEIR DONUT BUTTS….this mas should have protected his children!!!

Tom

Krissy-I hope when your being assaulted, robbed, car jacked or burgled and someone calls a cop to help you, or you call a cop to help you, their sitting in a doughnut shop and unavailable to respond.
working man

Yes I see chicago cops in Evergreen park on hot dog stops when they should be in chicago working, And this is not the city line it is 2 miles in to the town of Evergeen

whon won

May the field have honors
Dallas D

Mr. Mayfield should have never had to wait to be set free. He did exactly what he was supposed to do. He could have let his daughters and her friend go home alone on the bus in the Woodlawn area all by themselves. But NOOO, he decided to go along with those girls to protect them. I thank God that he did. He had to pay a terrible price for being a Father, Protector, and a Hero. I am so glad that the judge looked into her heart and also watched the surveillance camera video. I wonder why it took so long to watch that video? Well, that’s neither here or there now. The vidoe proved everything along with testimony. God was in Mr. Mayfield’s corner all the time from the day he acted to protect the lives of his daughters and his own. Anyone in their right mind would have done the same if someone accosted them on the street and they had protection on them. It’s common freakin sense! Too many times people are caught off guard and are hurt and killed innocently. This case really touched me because there are so many men out there with children who don’t give a damn how they get home and where they are. I prayed for Mr. Mayfield.So many children nowadays need MEN because they are suppposed to be the protectors in the first place. I remember a story about a menace to society who taunted and accosted people and was taken out by a small time citizen, The story was called David and Goliath!!!!

Thinking Quickly

Right on, and I would have done the same!!! Maybe if everyone had their fathers with them for self defense, then less children around chicago would be dead.

NWA

The African-American communities don’t need any more fools, and this jerk is a fool. This doper was out looking for trouble. Let’s not forget. This fool was walking around strapped and loaded with his children. He should have walked it off and called the po po.

S.O.S.
NIZZER

NWA you’re more of an IDIOT than I thought you were.
Robert L.

God through his grace and mercy is still with you Eliot. Continue to trust the process and stay the course.
Centurion

The spirit of God was not with Mr. Mayfield. The spirit of Samuel Colt was with him.
Cornyia Carter

I don’t really care either way, but I believe the witness was not telling the whole truth of what happened. I do not think that the shooter was provoked that hard he (the witness) exaggerated what happened. the shooter is an ex-convict and a man of the streets still, and still a hot-head. I live around these types of people and see it everyday….he did not need to be that provoked to do what he did…Again, I do not care either…he got off and as you all like to say, “the system worked”….
tina

HE HAD TO DO THE COPS JOB..we have to take back our community… PARENTS TEACH YOUR CHILDREN…stop drinking, partying and gettin high with your teens, go to church, go to school, get a life!!!
Security

Mr. Elliot Mayfield, Hats off to you, and Damm good shot too!!!!
edward c. stengel

The only person on this website who makes any sense is “Concerned Citizen.”
You can’t just shoot people because you don’t like something they’re doing, even if it is illlegal. That judge has just condoned murder. Political correctness is a crime itself. Even if the drug dealer did become a bit abusive in his language or even talked to the man’s little girls, that doesn’t justify murder. It’s also more than likely than the murderer and his daughters have exaggerated this episode just a little bit.