Woman Charged in South Loop Fatal Shooting Appears in Court
Defendant Appears in Packed Chicago Courtroom
A judge moved proceedings to a different courtroom in Chicago after family and friends filled the room during the first court appearance of Quadajah Johnson, 31, of Des Plaines, who is charged in a South Loop shooting that killed Romeca Meeks-Blackmon, also 31.
Johnson appeared Thursday morning for a detention hearing. She is seven weeks pregnant, according to information presented in court. Court documents identify her as the person charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.
Charges Stemming from September South Loop Shooting
Authorities charged Johnson with first-degree murder in the death of Meeks-Blackmon, who was shot on Cermak Road near State Street in the South Loop in September. Prosecutors stated in court that the incident occurred at 9:06 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, after Meeks-Blackmon had dropped off her 6-year-old son at school.
Prosecutors said that the father of Meeks-Blackmon’s baby, identified in court documents as Witness One, had parked nearby with Johnson and their six-month-old child in the vehicle. According to prosecutors, Johnson and Meeks-Blackmon began a verbal argument at the scene.
Prosecutors Describe Sequence of Events
Prosecutors told the court that the baby’s father attempted to break up the argument and then became physical with Meeks-Blackmon, placing her in a chokehold. They stated that Johnson then walked back to her car, retrieved a gun, and shot Meeks-Blackmon multiple times.
Prosecutors further said that, after the shooting, Johnson fist-bumped the baby’s father. Emergency responders took Meeks-Blackmon to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, where she died.
Prior Legal Action and Self-Defense Claim
Court records show that in 2024 Johnson filed a stalking no-contact order against Meeks-Blackmon. A judge granted the order of protection in July, but it was never served. Information presented in court indicated that Johnson holds a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card and a concealed carry license.
Johnson claims she acted in self-defense. During the hearing, the judge stated that celebrating in the street after shooting someone does not constitute self-defense.
Family Presence and Reactions in Court
Family and friends of Meeks-Blackmon attended the hearing and wore pink shirts in her memory. Her mother, Tina McMiller, was present in court. McMiller described the past three months as painful and said that the family has been greatly affected by Meeks-Blackmon’s death.
McMiller said she has been looking forward to the court date and expressed a desire for justice. She stated that a sense of peace of mind would come from the legal process, even though it would not bring her daughter back.