An 11-year-old boy, Jayden Perkins, was killed while attempting to protect his mother from a domestic violence attack.
The incident occurred on March 13, at around 8 a.m., when Crosetti Brand, against whom the boy’s pregnant mother, Laterria Smith, 33, had an order of protection, forced his way into their home, stabbing both the child and his mother, police report. Smith was about to take Jayden and his five-year-old brother to school.
Brand, 37, was on parole following a 16-year sentence for a previous home invasion and had just been released. He was charged on Friday, March 15 with first-degree murder, attempted murder, home invasion with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, and domestic battery, among others.
This is not Brand’s initial encounter with the law over domestic violence, as he has three previous violations of orders of protection, police disclosed.
Smith had a past connection to Crosetti reaching back over 15 years. Additionally, she had an extensive record of attempting to shield herself from him since their previous romantic involvement.
A previous partner of Brand disclosed in a phone conversation this week that his early release was hard to believe. Court documents indicated that Brand had “barged into the residence of a past girlfriend,” subsequently “assaulted [girlfriend] while also menacing her teenage son who was 15 at the time,” followed by “pressing a firearm against [girlfriend’s] face… shoving her against the wall… and proceeding to strangle her.”
Despite his conviction to a 16-year term for the burglary at the ex-partner’s house, Brand secured parole in October 2023. On February 1st, authorities claimed he made threats against Smith. He was then sent back to prison for his parole violation and was released again on March 12. He stabbed Smith and her son Jayden on the 13th.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling and Cook County State Attorney Kimberly M. Foxx have both emphasized the devastating impact of the incident on the victims and the broader community. Foxx described the crime as one that “shocked our city to its core,” highlighting the premature loss of an innocent child and the attack on a mother in her own home—a place that should have been a sanctuary of safety.
Perkins was celebrated for his exceptional character, both within his school, Peirce Elementary School, and at the Gus Giordano Dance School, where he was known for his love of dance and performance. He played lead roles in several school plays, a testament to his talents and passion for the arts. The Gus Giordano Dance School shared memories of Perkins, emphasizing the joy, happiness, and light he brought to everyone around him. A fundraiser hosted by his school and dance community remembered him as a respected young man whose infectious laughter and kind heart left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
Inside the courtroom, relatives of the family made a dash for Brand, attempting to breach the courtroom dividers in their bid to reach him. Security personnel had to intervene, ushering them not only out of the courtroom but from the entire premises of the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse. Despite this disturbance, they were not found in contempt of court.
Smith, who is eight months pregnant, is expected to recover, and her unborn baby survived the stabbing.