First of Two Cook County Men Accused of Home Invasions in Wheaton and Lombard Sentenced to Sixty Years

Malik Pitts, 25 (d.o.b. 7/29/1998) formerly of Broadview, was sentenced to 35 years in jail for attempt murder and a consecutive sentence of 25 years in jail for home invasion. Pitts was also sentenced to 12-years in jail, to run concurrent, for child pornography. At minimum, Pitts will be required to serve a total of 41.5 years before being eligible for parole.

“WE ALL DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN OUR HOMES AND THE SHOCKINGLY VIOLENT BEHAVIOR SHOWN BY THESE TWO MEN DEMONSTRATES THEIR COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR OUR LAWS AND FOR HUMAN LIFE,” BOB BERLIN STATED. “THEIR ACTIONS HAVE SHATTERED THAT SENSE OF SAFETY. JUDGE O’CONNELL’S SIXTY-YEAR SENTENCE SENDS A CRYSTAL CLEAR MESSAGE TO WOULD-BE CRIMINALS THAT IN DUPAGE COUNTY WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THE TYPE OF VIOLENT CRIME EXHIBITED IN THIS CASE.”

LOMBARD - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that one of two men charged with breaking into homes in Wheaton and Lombard and shooting a homeowner in August 2020 has been sentenced to sixty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Malik Pitts, 25 (d.o.b. 7/29/1998) formerly of Broadview, appeared at his sentencing hearing today in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell, who handed down the sentence. On July 31, 2023, Pitts entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Attempt Murder (Class X Felony), one count of Home Invasion (Class X Felony) and one count of Attempt Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony). Judge O’Connell imposed a sentence of 35 years for attempt murder, a consecutive sentence of 25 years for home invasion and a concurrent 12-year sentence for attempt child pornography. In all, Pitts will be required to serve 41.5 years before being eligible for parole. The case against Pitt’s co-defendant Isaiah Johnson, 24 (d.o.b. 7/26/1999), of Blue Island continues with Johnson due back in court on March 29, 2024, for a sentencing hearing.

On August 23, 2020, at approximately 5:04 a.m. Wheaton Police officers responded to 1710 East Evergreen Street for a home invasion. Residents reported that they heard noises coming from outside. The homeowners exited the back door leaving the door unlocked. Once outside, the residents encountered Pitts and Johnson at which time Johnson pointed a silver handgun at them as Pitts entered the residence through the back door. Shortly after Pitts entered the residence, Johnson directed the victims to walk towards the rear of the residence with the gun. Once inside, Pitts entered a bedroom where two young girls and their grandmother were sleeping. Pitts then attempted to pull down the blanket and shorts and underwear of one of the girls. At this time the grandmother woke up and began speaking to Pitts at which time he struck her left cheek, ear and neck. The girls’ father entered the room and fought with Pitts. The men then fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. At approximately 5:22 a.m. the same morning, the Lombard Police Department responded to a call at 433 S. Highland Ave for a home invasion and shooting that just occurred. In this case, the male homeowner was awoken by Pitts and Johnson in his living room with Johnson pointing a gun at him asking “where’s the money?” Pitts then went to the upstairs bedroom where the mother and her daughter were sleeping in the same bed. Pitts ordered them to the main floor of the residence and then ordered the daughter to the basement and ordered her to remove her clothing. When the girl refused and fled, a physical struggle ensued between the father and Pitts. The struggle went into the backyard of the residence leaving Johnson with a gun behind them. During the struggle, Johnson fired multiple gunshots, one striking the father in the chest and one into the family car. The gunshot that hit the father, went through him and ultimately struck Pitts as well. Johnson and Pitts then fled the scene in the same stolen vehicle driven by a third co-defendant, Keytori Jackson. Jackson has been sentenced to fourteen years for her role in the matter.

“In the early morning hours, Mr. Pitts and Mr. Johnson violated the sanctity of their victims’ home in the worst imaginable way possible,” Berlin said. “We all deserve to feel safe and secure in our homes and the shockingly violent behavior shown by these two men demonstrates their complete disregard for our laws and for human life. Their actions have shattered that sense of safety. Judge O’Connell’s sixty-year sentence sends a crystal clear message to would-be criminals that in DuPage County we have zero tolerance for the type of violent crime exhibited in this case. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Lindt, Heather Misura and Cathy Nusgart for their efforts in holding these defendants accountable for their actions.”

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