OFF THE WIRE
agingrebel.com
Joshua Deford, a 23-year-old member of the DC Eagles Motorcycle Club, died as a result of a road rage incident in Chicago June 10. A 27-year-old woman named Chiquita Stevenson (photo above) is charged with two counts of attempted murder.
The incident began on the afternoon of June 7 when Stevenson cut into the middle of a pack 70 motorcycles near the intersection of the 294 Toll Road and Archer Avenue in Southwest Chicago. The DC Eagles were paying their respects at area cemeteries as part of a “Rest In Peace Ride.” The intersection is near Resurrection Cemetery, Bethania Cemetery and the Lithuanian National Cemetery.
Bikers Say
Police say that after almost hitting one of the motorcycles, Stevenson began throwing objects at the pack from inside her car. Police have not said whether the bikers made any defensive gestures at or took any defensive gestures toward the driver. But the confrontation escalated and Stevenson began chasing members of the pack up Archer. It is unclear whether she pursued members of the DC Eagles or friends of the club.
Deford pursued Stevenson and her would be victims. The chase reached 80 miles per hour and Deford crashed as he entered the suburb of Bedford Park.
The chase ended when Stevenson hit one of the bikers she was chasing as he tried to escape her by pulling into the driveway of the Bedford Park police station. She has not yet made a $500,000 bond. Stevenson pled guilty to misdemeanor battery in 2012 and was sentenced to 18 months of supervised release.
Stevenson Says
Chicago television station WMAQ reported that Stevenson claims to have been a victim of an unprovoked biker attack. Stevenson’s boyfriend, a man named Nicholas Williams, told the television station that members of the pack tried to break her windshield and that she only pursued one of the riders in order to get his license plate number. According to Williams she was surrounded by motorcyclists and, fearing for her own safety, called 911.
“She’s 120 pounds,” Williams told WMAQ. “Who in their right mind would do that?” Williams did not offer an explanation of why Stevenson pursued and ran over one of the bikers in the police station parking lot.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/Road-Rage-Blamed-For-Wild-Violent-Chase-With-Bike-Gang-262966601.html