Cook County Judge Raymond Myles lost his life nearly ten years ago during a failed robbery attempt outside his South Side residence. Myles, a native of the West Side and the eldest of ten children, served as both the head of his family and a notable figure in the Cook County judiciary.
On Monday, during a hearing prior to the sentencing of his convicted murderer, Myles’ family members gathered to honor him. His relatives described him as a devoted father and a hard-working judge with a desire to help others. Raymond Myles Jr., his son, shared the moment he learned of his father’s death while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. Despite listing many of his father’s attributes and achievements, he said, “I knew him as ‘Dad.’ He taught me the wisdom, principles, and values he received from his own father.” Myles Jr. expressed his longing for one more conversation and hug with his father.
Myles was fatally shot at his South Side home in 2017. His untimely death still leaves his family asking, “Why?” His sister, Vernell Tibbs, spoke during the victim impact statement, saying, “No one should endure the kind of grief that has overwhelmed my family. I could empty the ocean with a thimble before understanding why.” She emphasized her brother’s importance by stating, “If I had a million tongues, I couldn’t adequately convey Judge Myles’ significance to our family.”
Approximately 30 of Myles’ relatives and friends attended the sentencing hearing at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse in Bridgeview. Earlier this year, Earl Wilson, 54, received a conviction for murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and armed robbery related to the April 10, 2017, shooting on South Forest Avenue. Wilson’s co-defendant, Joshua Smith, admitted guilt to armed robbery in 2024 and received a 35-year prison sentence.
The trial took place in a branch courthouse in Bridgeview, overseen by DuPage County Judge Jeffrey McKay, to prevent potential bias from Myles’ colleagues. Myles’ murder, the first judicial killing in over three decades, deeply affected his peers and sparked a comprehensive police investigation.
Myles and his girlfriend, Venita Parrish, shared a routine of morning gym visits before work. They were on this schedule when confronted by a gunman who stole Parrish’s bag, mistaking it for cash. During Wilson’s trial, Parrish testified about seeing someone near Myles’ home and dialed 911. “Please, hurry,” she pleaded in the call, part of which was replayed in court. She recounted the ordeal, describing her fall and the gunshot wound to her leg. “He said, ‘B—-, shut up,'” she testified regarding Wilson’s actions. The case’s sentencing is set for mid-November. Wilson is expected to receive a life sentence, though the prosecution seeks an enhancement. Wilson’s lawyer stated, “He’s not going home — ever — even if you give him the minimum.”
Retired Cook County Judge Nicholas Ford, a long-time colleague at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, delivered a victim impact statement. Ford praised Myles, saying, “He was committed to bettering young people’s lives repeatedly. He was a guiding light for those who appeared before him. How could anyone do anything more noble than that?”
Myles’ niece, Tamika Tibbs, recalled earning straight A’s on her report card as a child, and her uncle affectionately calling her “Miss A.” She said, “It filled me with pride and motivated me to pursue excellence. I would give anything to hear him call me ‘Miss A’ one more time.”
Before the hearing concluded, Wilson addressed the court with a tearful denial of involvement in Myles’ death. “I did not kill his father,” Wilson asserted, referencing Myles Jr. “I did not kill Mr. Myles. Why would I want to take such an asset from my community?”