Woman shot, killed on West Side

July 11, 2006 (Last Updated: 4:39 PM) (WLS) -- A Chicago mother was shot and killed Monday night during a confrontation on the city's West Side. Latasha Hassel-Brunt apparently argued with her husband's cousins over a possible burglary at her home.

One suspect is in custody and police are still searching for two others. Family and friends are in mourning over the murder of the mother of three young children. The 22 year old lived with her husband in the 2700 block of West Maypole. She was shot a few blocks away near the intersection of Kedzie and Walnut.

Chicago police are still searching for a gunman. They believe that gunman is a teenager and relative of Latasha Brunt. They believe that he is Latasha Brunt's husband's cousin.

Inside a West Side church Tuesday, family and friends are using love to deal with the death of the 22-year-old woman.

"God didn't put us here to kill each other. He put us here to love each other, doing his will," said Edgar Hassell, victim's father.

Latasha helped with music programs at Jacksonville Christian Church, and Tuesday, clergy members are galvanized and want the violence to end.

"There should be a support system and get other clergy involved and other community members involved in it. And the community has to denounce homicides and violence itself, and that's the only way it works," said Rev. Robin Hood, Ceasefire clergy coordinator.

"If you see something wrong in your community, you have to speak up and you can't be hiding and dodging and you can't be in fear," said Pastor Steve Greer, Christian Valley Baptist Church.

Latasha and her husband lived on the 2700 block of West Maypole. Relatives say burglars broke into the home on Friday and then again on Monday.

Neighbors say the burglars were Prince Brunt's cousins. Latasha and Prince, along with her brother and a girlfriend, tracked down the three cousins.

"And when we got over there, we saw them walking down the street. We got out of the car. We approached them and told them, you know, give us the stuff. And they said they didn't do it," said Dushanti Hassell, victim's brother.

Relatives say Latasha Hassell Brunt called police for help. When police arrived, they handcuffed one cousin but two ran away from the scene. And then gunfire.

"I look up. My wife says she was shot and holding her chest right here. And when I turned around, the officer had a gun pointed. He put it down and called for more ambulance and police," said Prince Brunt, victim's husband.

"The only shot that I heard, which was only one shot, was from behind me. The gentleman that they were saying they were looking for was in front of me. That shot came from the rear of me. When I turned around, the police squatted down by his squad car with his weapon drawn," said Dushanti Hassell, victim's brother.

"The officer did dislodge his weapon from his holster. At that point it was too late. So the officer did not shoot his weapon. Did not fire his weapon," said Monique Bond, Chicago police spokesperson.

Police say the officers were issued 9 millimeter handguns. A .45 caliber handgun and a .45 caliber shell casing were recovered at the scene.

One suspect is still on the loose.

"He has done an awful thing. And sometimes you just have to say the consequences of the things do you and he needs to turn himself in," said Diane Hassell, victim's mother.

Chicago police are still searching for one teenage suspect. That .45 semiautomatic gun that was recovered at the scene was stolen from Latasha Hassell Brunt's home during a burglary.

The clergy members are trying to get the community together. They hope to have a rally at the crime scene sometime Wednesday.

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