Chicago Resident Travion Cooper Charged With First Degree Murder Following Voluntary Surrender in Greater Grand Crossing

Chicago police charge 30-year-old Travion Cooper with murder after a lawyer's tip leads to the discovery of Terriyanna Johnson in Greater Grand Crossing.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 8:56 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Chicago Sun-Times

A Surrender Leading to a Somber Discovery

The South Side of Chicago became the center of a homicide investigation this week following an unconventional chain of events that led police to a crime scene in Greater Grand Crossing. According to police reports, the sequence began when a criminal defense attorney reached out to law enforcement to report the presence of a deceased individual and indicate that a client intended to turn himself in. This notification led officers to an apartment complex on East 72nd Street late Monday evening, where the grim reality of the report was confirmed by responding units.

Autopsy Confirms Violent End for Young Victim

The victim has been identified as 29-year-old Terriyanna Johnson, who was found unresponsive by authorities at approximately 8:40 p.m. inside the residential unit. Following the recovery of the body, the Cook County medical examiner’s office conducted a formal autopsy on Tuesday to determine the exact nature of the fatality. The results of the examination concluded that Johnson’s death was caused by strangulation, prompting the medical examiner to officially rule the case a homicide, thereby shifting the inquiry into a formal murder investigation.

Formal Charges Filed Against Travion Cooper

In the wake of the surrender and the subsequent forensic findings, Chicago police moved forward with criminal proceedings against the suspect. Travion Cooper, a 30-year-old Chicago resident, now faces a count of first degree murder in connection with the April 20 incident. The prompt filing of charges highlights the direct link established between the suspect’s legal representation and the location of the deceased, as well as the evidence gathered within the Greater Grand Crossing apartment where the assault took place.