PO Areanah Preston
Officer: Chicago Police Officer Aréanah M. Preston
Date: 5/6/2023 Location: Chicago, IL FACTORS (1,2,7,15,20,21)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Joseph Brooks, Jakwon Buchanan, Trevell Breeland, Jaylen Frazier
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, all four subjects have “a lengthy criminal history” with multiple arrests including weapons offenses, armed robbery, theft, and assault. / Yes, the four subjects were on a violent crime spree committing armed robbery, burglary, and car theft.
Mental Illness: None reported.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None reported.
Race/Sex/Age: Brooks: B/M/19; Buchanan: B/M/18; Breeland: B/M/19; Frazier: B/M/16
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 1:40 a.m. on May 6, 2023, Chicago PO Areanah Preston was in uniform having just got off-duty from a shift and about to walk into her home when at least three of the armed subjects exited a car and ran at her to rob her. Caught by surprise in front of her house, PO Preston reached for her duty gun to defend herself.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Brooks “told police he shot first when we saw PO Preston reach for her service weapon.” PO Preston returned fire at the subjects before being fatally shot in the face and neck. The subjects retrieved the fallen officer’s duty weapon and then fled the area.
Reactions by the police: While surveilling a house they believed one of the perpetrators to be at, the Chicago Police observed Buchanan leaving so they arrested him and after a standoff they arrested the remaining subjects hiding in the house.
How murdered? PO Preston was ambushed in front of her house after finishing a shift.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? PO Preston was ambushed and reacted as soon as she perceived the threat.
Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? PO Preston was justified to use deadly force as soon as she saw the armed subjects approaching her.
Outcome for the cop-killer: The four subjects were arrested within 48 hours and face multiple charges including “first-degree murder, armed robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft and other offenses.”
Miscellaneous: The impetus for the crime spree that ended with the murder of PO Preston was that “Buchanan's girlfriend wanted money for a barbecue.” At least two, if not all four of the subjects were on probation at the time of the murder and should have still been in prison for one of the many violent crimes they committed in recent years.
