Lakeview Residents Petition for Action After Willie Wright, Leon Jackson Charged in Chicago Street Attacks

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Lakeview petition gaining traction online is pressing local officials to respond to what residents describe as a troubling pattern: people accused of repeated crimes returning to the neighborhood again and again.

That concern came into sharp focus as ABC7 reported from the area, when one of the men identified in the petition was seen walking nearby — a sight neighbors say is all too familiar.

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The Change.org petition was launched by Amber Davidson and has drawn thousands of signatures from people urging a stronger response from city and court officials.

The petition specifically names Willie Wright and Leon Jackson, whom residents describe as repeat offenders. ABC7 verified that both men have extensive records involving charges of battery and assault.

“The judges do have discretion, and we’d really like to see them use it better,” Davidson said.

For Lakeview resident Jenna Klotz, the issue is personal. She said Jackson attacked her last November as she walked on Broadway near Barry.

“I was just walking down the street when this individual was coming towards me and came right up to me and hit me in the head,” Klotz said.

Jackson was taken into custody days later and charged with battery. Klotz said she later discovered that other neighbors had reported similar incidents.

“It concerned me when I started seeing how many times this had occurred, and then I also understood that this was just a regular occurrence that people in the neighborhood were fearful of,” she said.

Court records show Jackson is now back in custody on a separate charge. Wright, meanwhile, does not currently have pending cases, which is why he was free to be in the neighborhood.

For Klotz and others, the situation raises broader concerns about how repeat cases are handled.

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“It’s just a cycle and it repeats itself. What do we do next? And so I don’t feel like I have the answer right now, but I do know what we’re doing right now is not working,” she said.

Davidson said accounts like Klotz’s are driving calls for accountability in the justice system.

“This is a failure of our judges and our prosecutors to keep people like this off the street,” she said.

She added that while some point to the SAFE-T Act – which changed how detention decisions are made – she believes the issue lies in how existing legal tools are used.

“The problem is not with the SAFE-T Act; there are provisions within the SAFE-T Act that can be utilized by the courts. They’re just not doing that,” Davidson said.

In a statement, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said it seeks pretrial detention in all violent felony cases where an offender poses a risk to the public, but noted that judges ultimately decide whether someone is released or remains in custody.

Offices for the two alderpersons named in the petition were also contacted. One of them, 44th Ward Ald. Bennett Lawson, called the incidents involving Wright and Jackson “incredibly concerning” and said his office is working closely with police and the state’s attorney’s office.

“Nothing is more important to me than the safety of 44th Ward residents and the incidents involving these two individuals are incredibly concerning. My office has been working closely with the Cook County State’s Attorney and with CPD, and through our Court Advocacy Program have been helping residents attend relevant court hearings. We encourage everyone to be mindful and aware of their surroundings at all times and to immediately call 911 to report any troubling behavior,” Lawson said in a statement.

Residents say they want accountability – and change – as concerns about safety continue.

Full Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office statement:
“The CCSAO recognizes the frustration of residents when individuals accused of repeated criminal conduct continue to cause disruption and harm in their communities. We are committed to seeking justice for victims and holding offenders accountable in every case that we handle. To best protect public safety, the CCSAO seeks pre-trial detention in every violent felony case where the offender poses a risk to the public. While prosecutors present the facts, evidence and criminal history of a defendant during detention hearings, judges ultimately make the decision about whether the individual is released or held in custody.”