Tierra Franklin: Chicago orphan, 17, SHOT DEAD by teen for throwing water at McDonald's staff
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A 19-year-old man allegedly gunned down a Chicago orphan, 17, after the victim hurled water at staff at a Chicago McDonald's. Suspect Anthony Heredia shot Tierra Franklin dead outside the fast food joint in the Little Village area of the Windy City on Friday, July 1.
Heredia said that an unidentified friend asked him to come over and take revenge on Franklin for hurling water at the staff. What prompted Franklin to throw the water, and who asked Heredia to attack Franklin, remain unclear. The exact motive is still under investigation. The murder took place at a drive-thru window during what police said was an "ongoing dispute".
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Heredia has been accused of shooting Franklin twice while passing on a bike. He struck her once in the back. Franklin was taken to St Anthony's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The shooting on Friday came as 35 people were shot, and five, including Franklin, were killed across the city during the July 4 holiday weekend.
Franklin's murder is the latest tragedy in her family. The teen had wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up. In April this year, the schoolgirl's mother Keeyana Sanderson died of cancer. Her father was gunned down about 12 years ago. He has not been named and the circumstances around his killing have not been disclosed. Franklin was headed into her senior year at Curie High School, her family members reportedly said. She was in the care of DCFS. The relationship between Heredia and Franklin is not known.
Cook County prosecutors said on Heredia's bond hearing on Sunday, July 3, that Franklin had allegedly thrown a cup of water at an employee through the drive-thru window. Heredia was arrested after several McDonald's employees identified him as being at the restaurant immediately before Franklin, of the 3700 block of West Cermak Road, was shot dead. Heredia was also seen on surveillance footage, retrieving a spent casing from the scene, according to prosecutors.
Friends and family of Franklin gathered last week to remember her. "They tell you they're going out to the store, you expect them to come back home," said Franklin's aunt, Juanita Flowers, according to ABC7. "So it's tragic." Flowers is fighting with a sense of regret as she was too late on Friday to pick up her niece on the day of the murder. "I feel like if I would've been here, maybe an hour, 45 minutes earlier, she would've been in the car with me. She wouldn't have been at the location where it happened," Flowers said. "Looking forward to graduating next year from Curie High School, looking forward to prom," she said of Franklin.
On the other hand, Heredia was living with foster parents under the supervision of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Courtney Smallwood, has confirmed. He was set to start his senior year at private school Country Club Hills Tech and Trade in the fall. In January, Heredia pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm in connection to a 2021 incident and was sentenced to two years behind bars. However, he was released in March with credit for time served. Appearing in court on Sunday, July 3, Heredia said, "I just want to apologize to the victim's family." He has been ordered to be held without bond.
At the hearing, Circuit Judge Susana Ortiz noted how a 19-year-old was able to readily acquire a gun. "I will note here that we have a 19-year-old who can obtain firearms more readily that he can obtain a pack of cigarettes," Ortiz said. "That's something we may want to look at."