Man Gets 60 Years For Killing Girlfriend In 2010
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A Chicago man who was convicted of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend during a domestic dispute in 2010 has been sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Gerald Rufus, 31, was previously convicted by a jury of two counts of first-degree murder for the death of 23-year-old Theresa Russell in September 2010 in Englewood, according to a statement from the Cook County State's Attorney's office. He was sentenced Tuesday to 60 years.
On Sept. 4, 2010, Chicago Police responded to a call of someone shot in the 6400 block of South Morgan and found Rufus in the home, visibly distraught and kneeling over Russell's body, authorities said.
Russell, of the 7600 block of South May Street, had been shot in the left armpit and was dead on the scene, authorities said at the time.
Rufus initially told police Russell was shot on the front porch in a drive-by, but then claimed the couple was on the back porch when the shooting happened, prosecutors said.
Rufus later changed his story again and told police they were inside the house when Russell was shot, prosecutors said. A search turned up no evidence of a gun being fired and no eyewitnesses.
Rufus refused to submit to a gunshot residue test and was arrested, prosecutors said.
Forensic tests found the victim has been shot at a range of less than six inches, and witnesses in the building testified they saw Rufus cradling Russell immediately after they heard the shot.
Police later learned that Russell was shot dead after arguing with Rufus, authorities said at the time.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
