Suspect Arrested in Shooting Death of 16-Year-Old

A recent parolee may be responsible for the shooting death of 16-year-old Fred Crouch in Chicago. Police have charged 42-year-old Randall White with the murder, which was captured on tape.

A 42-year-old parolee with a long rap sheet was charged with fatally shooting a 16-year-old boy outside of a Far South Side convenience store last week.

Randall White, of the 11900 block of South Wallace Street was charged Monday night with first-degree murder in the Wednesday slaying of Fred Couch Jr., 16, according to Chicago police. White is expected to appear for a bond hearing Tuesday morning.

Calumet Area detectives working with the area’s gang enforcement unit arrested White Sunday near his West Pullman home after White was positively identified in a photo array. White, who attempted to flee after observing police arrive at his residence, was arrested after a short foot chase, police said.

Police believe White was the gunman captured on a surveillance video fatally shooting the prone Fenger High School sophomore outside of Big Sam’s Mini Mart at 333 W. 119th St.

Police say Couch was in a parking lot when White approached in a dark vehicle. When Couch saw White, the offender exited the vehicle with a handgun and opened fire, fatally striking the teen.

Friends and family described Couch as a friendly, if not trouble-free youth, having numerous run-ins with police. His accused killer — currently out on parole — also has numerous arrests and felony convictions, including a 2007 conviction for weapon possession by a felon.

White served just over two years of a six-year sentence before being released exactly two weeks before Couch’s murder. Police didn’t offer a motive for the slaying.