D Questions? Call 1-800-Tribune Monday, December 17, 2018 Breaking news at chicagotribune.com NFC NORTH CHAMPIONS UNSOLVED 75 SHOT, 3 CHARGED Road to justice long and uncertain Victim’s mother calls wait for accountability ‘not comforting at all’ By William Lee and Jeremy Gorner Chicago Tribune Rick Franklin’s hearing before a judge last month lasted about two minutes, if that. Dressed in a tan jail jumpsuit, Franklin crossed his bare arms behind his back as he walked into the courtroom. He was facing gun charges for shooting a man in the foot during a violent weekend in August, when at least 75 people were shot in Chicago. Before Franklin was even settled, another hearing ARMANDO L. SANCHEZ/CHICAGO TRIBUNE date had been set. Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky celebrates with fans after the Bears defeated the Packers 24-17 at Soldier Field to clinch the NFC North title. “So we’ll see you back here on Dec. 10, OK,” said the judge, who was filling in for another judge who regularly presided in that courtroom. Franklin was quickly taken back to a holding cell. But when Franklin returned Bears: Worst to 1st Dec. 10, the regular judge again wasn’t present and he was told to return in another month. Nagy leads franchise’s resurgence to NFC North title — and there’s more ahead These routine postponements offer a glimpse into how victims BEARS 24, PACKERS 17 and families of people shot in Chicago can face a depressingly CHICAGO SPORTS long road on the way to justice. ■ Wiederer: Tarik Cohen’s a Even with the low percentage of symbol for the team, the season. shootings that result in arrests, it ■ Trubisky, defense have big day. can take more than a year of Brad Biggs filings, fights over evidence and On the Bears CHICAGOLAND delays before a case may finally Fans ecstatic: Joyous backers at be resolved. There were T-shirts and ball- Soldier Field feel like Christmas Alicia Owney has been told it caps handed out to celebrate the came early for them. Page 3 could be two years before she Bears’ first NFC North crown in Siren assessed: Fans weigh in on knows whether someone will be eight years but no Gatorade bath Bears’ sonic addition. Page 3 held accountable for the death of for first-year coach Matt Nagy. her 23-year-old son, who was When the clock expired on a gunned down as he was moving gorgeous Sunday afternoon at into her apartment complex in Soldier Field, Nagy strode to home game in the wild-card the South Shore neighborhood midfield, where he greeted inter- round of the playoffs Jan. 5-6. Aug. 3. im Packers coach Joe Philbin As a bonus for Nagy, he got to Owney has been in court and then Bears all-time nemesis exit the field without taking a every month, tracking the case of Aaron Rodgers, who had won his soaking, a sign that A) no one on the man accused of murdering last eight starts in the stadium. CHRIS SWEDA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE the sideline thought about it or her son, Christopher Jackson. Nagy did it with a dry navy Bears coach Matt Nagy raises his arms in celebration after the Bears B) the Bears are looking ahead to She finds the wait hard to believe team jacket and his customary won the NFC North with their victory over the Packers at Soldier Field. a grander occasion. and hard to take. visor, which he soon traded for a “We’re saving that,” left tackle “It’s not comforting at all,” she division champs cap. The 24-17 best since they had the same ningest first-year head coach Charles Leno said. “We were a said. “I lost my son. I’m glad they victory locked up the division record in 2005, achieving Nagy’s since George Halas went 10-1-2 little too juiced. We were just found someone for his murder, and a playoff spot, completing a stated goal of protecting home in 1920. It gave the Bears an trying to finish the game because but it’s hard going to court.” remarkable worst-to-first turn- turf. inside track at no worse than the we have seen some crazy things The suspect, Terrell Webb, is around. It gave the Bears a 7-1 The Bears improved to 10-4, No. 3 seed in the NFC field, record at home this season, their making Nagy the team’s win- which would guarantee them a Turn to Biggs, Page 3 Turn to Unsolved, Page 4 Compromise unlikely CTA pickpocket thefts up 13% in 2018 Experts say keys are on gov’t shutdown to keep valuables out of sight and stay alert White House firm on $5B border wall funding By Laura King for the wall. Los Angeles Times The idea of a wall is unpopular among Democratic voters, and WASHINGTON — The party leaders have little incentive Trump administration signaled to bail Republicans out of a Sunday that it would not compro- politically difficult situation. mise to avert a partial Republican leaders in Mary Wisniewski government shutdown both the House and Getting Around at the end of this week. Senate have urgently Senior White House tried to avoid a shut- Watch your stuff and stay policy adviser Stephen down and thought earli- alert. This is a bad year for pick- Miller said “we’re going er this month that they pocketing on the CTA, accord- to do whatever is neces- had Trump’s agree- ing to city crime statistics. JOHN J. KIM/CHICAGO TRIBUNE sary” to secure money ment. A review of nonviolent thefts During the holiday season, CTA riders can be more distracted than for the president’s wall But after a tumul- on CTA property through Dec. 3 usual and forget to take precautions against pickpockets. on the Mexican border. tuous week during found 2,141 incidents on trains From the Democratic Miller which a new acting and buses, and at bus stops and ting into a pretend fight, while CTA spokesman Brian Steele side came admonitions White House chief of “L” stations, according to num- the others go after wallets and said that about half of these that the White House and con- staff was appointed and Interior bers from the city’s data portal. phones. reported CTA thefts are pick- gressional Republicans would Secretary Ryan Zinke said he was The thefts include pickpocket- This year is already the third- pocketing, and most are com- bear responsibility if a shutdown leaving the administration, to- ing and purse and phone worst for thefts on the CTA mitted by a small number of disrupts government agencies gether with an escalation of the snatching. since 2004. The worst year was repeat offenders. Four pickpock- during the year-end holiday sea- president’s legal exposure on Though 2018 is not over yet, 2013, with 2,516 incidents, fol- ets in a ring who were arrested son. Senate Minority Leader multiple fronts, Trump has ap- the tally is already 13 percent lowed by 2012 with 2,296, ac- this summer told investigators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on peared at times to relish the idea higher than last year, which saw cording to numbers from the that they averaged five thefts a Republican leaders to stand up to of a highly public confrontation 1,896 nonviolent thefts on CTA city data portal. The Tribune day on the system, Steele said. Trump’s “temper tantrum” de- property. looked at thefts that did not The worst time for pickpock- mands for $5 billion in funding Turn to Shutdown, Page 13 “The pickpockets are all over involve violence. eting tends to be during the the place,” said Bob Angone, a Last month alone saw 228 summer, when tourists are retired Chicago Police Depart- thefts, the worst November in 15 about, looking at maps and ment tactical lieutenant for years. staring at skyscrapers. The Child’s death shows border issues mass transit. He said thieves Citywide, theft is down holiday season is another time tend to work in packs. One or slightly from last year, and up 1 when riders may be distracted Communication challenges along the border increase with migrants two may create a diversion, like percent from 2014, according to who don’t speak English or Spanish. Nation & World, Page 10 bumping into someone or get- the Chicago Police Department. Turn to Wisniewski, Page 7 Chicago Weather Center: Complete $2.50 city and suburbs, $3.00 elsewhere High Low Tom Skilling’s forecast 38 25 forecast on back page of A+E section 171st year No. 351 © Chicago Tribune 2 Chicago Tribune | Section 1 | Monday, December 17, 2018 THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: ‘A DECADE-BY-DECADE HISTORY’ The Blackhawks, one of the NHL’s “Original Six,” have been building a storied legacy since their founding in 1926. The Hawks have produced dozens of standout stars, from Hall of Fame goaltender Mike Karakas in the ’30s to Bobby “The Golden Jet” Hull in the ’60s to current team captain Jonathan Toews, who has led the team to a remarkable three championships since 2010. This com- prehensive collection includes archival photos, original reporting, player profiles, timelines, statistics, and more—all curated by the Tribune’s sports department from the newspaper’s vast archives. Available at chi- cagotribune.com/hawkshistory, and wherever books are sold. HOW THE NEWSPAPER GETS PRINTED Visit the Tribune’s Freedom Center for a two and half hour tour of the printing presses, press plates and enor- mous paper rolls, and get a taste of the Tribune’s history.