Reporting and analysis may discuss allegations and online theories. Allegations are not findings of guilt. Verify important details in the cited public record.
THE BRICK & COBY FOIA FILES
The Double Murder That Sent Chicago Drill Into Chaos
On July 17, 2017, one of the most talked about double homicides in Chicago drill history unfolded on the 6300 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue in the Woodlawn neighborhood. In broad daylight, Jermaine “FBG Brick” Robinson and Stanley “Coby Mack” Mack were ambushed and killed near a residential gangway in a shooting that would later become one of the most dissected murder cases ever discussed inside Chicago drill culture. Years later, the case still fuels endless Reddit debates, street rumors, lyric breakdowns, and theories surrounding who was involved, how the shooting unfolded, and whether the official paperwork tells the full story.
The case exploded online for multiple reasons. Brick was the older brother of FBG Duck and closely connected to STL, EBT, and Jaro City circles that had already become legendary inside Chicago drill culture. The timing of the murder also intensified the attention surrounding the case, as many people online viewed the shooting as part of the larger ongoing war between rival factions connected to STL, O’Block, 600, and surrounding sets. When portions of the homicide FOIA finally surfaced years later, internet investigators immediately began tearing through every page of the report trying to reconstruct the murder step by step.
Official Incident Details
According to the Chicago Police Department homicide paperwork, the shooting occurred at approximately 2:20 p.m. near 6326 South St. Lawrence Avenue. The official location was documented as a residential yard involving the front, rear, and gangway areas of the property. The case was classified as a double homicide involving multiple offenders.
The victims were identified as Jermaine Robinson, also known as FBG Brick, and Stanley Mack, also known as Coby Mack. Robinson was listed in the paperwork as a 26 year old Black male with a Gangster Disciples affiliation. Mack was listed as a 31 year old Black male with the same affiliation noted inside the report. Both victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Robinson was assigned Medical Examiner number 2017-03318 while Mack received Medical Examiner number 2017-03317.
The public reporting surrounding the murders was initially brief. According to the Chicago Sun Times, officers responded to the block after reports of gunfire and discovered one victim near the front of the residence while the second victim was found deeper inside the rear gangway area. Robinson was reportedly found with gunshot wounds to the back and arm, while Mack suffered fatal wounds near the front portion of the property. (chicago.suntimes.com)
The Initial Police Narrative
The homicide paperwork paints the shooting as an organized ambush rather than a random encounter. According to the official police narrative, Robinson and Mack were standing near the gangway area when a white SUV approached the location. At least one offender exited the vehicle armed with a semi automatic handgun and immediately began firing at Robinson.
As shots rang out, Robinson reportedly attempted to flee toward the rear gangway area. The paperwork states that another offender was positioned deeper inside the gangway waiting as Robinson ran through the narrow pathway attempting to escape the gunfire. Both offenders then allegedly continued firing at the victims before returning to the SUV and fleeing the scene.
The wording inside the report became one of the biggest discussion points online because the narrative suggested coordination between multiple shooters. Many readers believed the positioning described in the paperwork indicated planning, with one offender opening fire from the front while another waited deeper inside the gangway to cut off any escape route.
The report also confirmed that multiple shell casings were recovered throughout the scene, which later became another major topic of analysis among Reddit users attempting to reconstruct the exact movements of both the shooters and victims during the attack.
The White Ford Explorer
One of the most important details buried inside the homicide file was the vehicle description connected to the shooting. According to the official report, the suspects fled the scene inside a possible white Ford Explorer with no front license plate and a green dealer plate attached to the rear of the vehicle.
That single detail triggered years of internet speculation. Reddit users began searching old Instagram photos, social media videos, and archived images trying to identify whether any known individuals connected to the case had been photographed near white SUVs or dealer plated vehicles around the time of the murders. Others believed the dealer plate detail suggested the vehicle may have been intentionally chosen because temporary dealer tags are more difficult to immediately trace during an active homicide investigation.
The white SUV became one of the defining symbols of the case because the vehicle was repeatedly referenced in the paperwork while very little additional public information ever surfaced regarding whether police successfully identified or recovered it afterward.
The Crime Scene and Evidence Recovery
The evidence inventory released inside the FOIA gave a much clearer picture of how extensive the shooting scene actually was. According to the forensic inventory records, investigators recovered numerous fired cartridge casings from different portions of the block including the pavement, grass, gangway, parkway, and walkway areas surrounding the property. The evidence logs specifically referenced both .40 caliber and .45 caliber shell casings recovered from multiple locations throughout the scene.
The spread of the shell casings strongly suggested movement during the shooting rather than all shots being fired from a single stationary position. Internet investigators quickly focused on this detail because the casing locations appeared to support the theory that at least one victim was moving while shots continued being fired.
The evidence inventory also documented the recovery of victim clothing, biological evidence, blood swabs, personal belongings, bullet fragments, metal fragments, photographs, audio recordings, scene videos, and recovered projectiles. Additional paperwork referenced inventory bags connected to both victims and the crime scene itself.
For many people online, the amount of collected evidence reinforced the belief that investigators likely had a far more detailed understanding of the shooting than what had publicly surfaced through media reports.
The Condition of the Victims
The homicide paperwork and online discussions together painted an extremely violent scene. According to official reporting, one victim was found near the front of the property while the second victim was located deeper inside the rear gangway area after attempting to flee.
Reddit discussions surrounding the case became especially graphic when users began analyzing rumors about the victims’ injuries. Multiple commenters claimed Coby Mack suffered devastating wounds to the head and face during the attack. Other users repeatedly alleged that Brick was struck while attempting to move near or climb a gate inside the gangway. Several commenters specifically referenced injuries near the eye area, though many of those details circulated more heavily through Reddit and street discussions than through officially released autopsy summaries.
The official paperwork itself confirmed both victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds but did not publicly disclose every wound location in the released pages. Still, the combination of the official narrative, shell casing spread, and gangway pursuit details created an image of an extremely aggressive close range attack rather than a simple drive by shooting.
Makado’s Name Appears in the Investigation
The most explosive revelation inside the homicide file involved Makavelle “Makado” Sampson. According to the paperwork, Sampson was listed as an offender connected to the investigation. The report later noted that he was already in Cook County Jail custody in 2023 on unrelated matters while the Brick and Coby homicide investigation remained active.
Once internet users saw Makado’s name attached to the paperwork, Reddit immediately exploded with theories, timelines, and debates. For years, his name had already circulated through rumors tied to the murders, but many people viewed the FOIA as the first major official confirmation that investigators themselves were looking at him in connection to the shooting.
The paperwork also included suspect descriptions that fueled even more speculation. One offender was described as a Black male approximately 20 to 25 years old, standing around 5 foot 4 to 5 foot 6 with a thin build, short dreadlocks, black clothing, and plaid blue or grey boxers visible above the waistline.
That description immediately caused Reddit users to begin comparing the suspect profile to numerous known figures from rival neighborhoods. Some users believed the description matched HK due to his age and appearance at the time, while others argued the details could fit multiple people connected to different factions.
The Photo Lineup and Witness Identification
Another major section of the FOIA involved a witness photo lineup connected to Makado. According to the released lineup paperwork, a witness viewed a photo array and identified one individual while failing to confidently identify another person connected to the investigation.
This immediately aligned with long standing Reddit claims that a witness or female eyewitness had allegedly identified one shooter while being unable to identify the second offender involved in the attack. Users online began debating whether this explained why so many names continued circulating years later despite no complete public resolution to every rumored participant.
The witness lineup paperwork became one of the most heavily discussed portions of the release because many internet investigators viewed it as one of the strongest indicators that police believed at least one participant had been directly identified by somebody present or connected to the scene.
The Two Shooter vs Three Shooter Debate
One of the biggest arguments surrounding the case involved how many offenders were actually involved in the shooting. The official homicide narrative repeatedly referenced two offenders during the attack. However, Reddit discussions surrounding the murders quickly expanded far beyond the official version of events.
Some users pointed to police scanner chatter that allegedly referenced three shooters. Others referenced drill lyrics and online comments where Brick’s death was described as involving multiple attackers beyond what was written inside the FOIA. One major discussion centered around lyrics from FBG Duck’s “Ghetto Angels” remix, where some listeners believed Duck implied Brick was killed by three shooters rather than two.
Other users theorized that even if only two shooters exited the vehicle, additional people may still have been involved as drivers, lookouts, or setup participants. Names like DQ, C Murda, Trey 5, HK, Edogg, and others repeatedly surfaced throughout Reddit discussions, though most of those claims remained internet speculation rather than officially confirmed findings.
One Reddit user argued the entire attack appeared coordinated, claiming one shooter allegedly chased Brick into the alley while another waited deeper inside the gangway area. Another user pushed back against that interpretation and argued the second shooter may simply have followed behind during the pursuit. The debate continued for years because the wording inside the official narrative leaves room for interpretation regarding the exact positioning of each offender during the shooting.
The Red Car Theory
One of the stranger but highly discussed internet theories involved a red vehicle allegedly connected to photos circulating online before the murders. Reddit users began reposting old social media images showing Makado near a red car weeks before the shooting and attempted to connect the images to the homicide.
Other users immediately pushed back against the theory, arguing that red vehicles are common throughout Chicago and that the FOIA itself specifically referenced a white Ford Explorer rather than a red car. Some people believed the red vehicle discussion was meaningless internet overanalysis, while others argued it still could have been connected through secondary transportation or unrelated movements before the murders.
Although the red car theory never became confirmed evidence, it showed how deeply internet users were analyzing every social media post, photograph, and visual detail connected to anyone rumored to be involved.
Reddit’s Obsession With Reconstructing the Murder
Few Chicago homicide cases have ever been dissected online the way the Brick and Coby murders were. Reddit users spent years trying to rebuild the shooting moment by moment using homicide paperwork, scanner audio, lyrics, social media posts, old photos, and street rumors.
Entire discussions focused on the exact locations of shell casings, the path Brick allegedly took while fleeing, the layout of the gangway, possible shooter positions, and whether the attack was fully planned ahead of time. Some users believed the murder was the result of detailed tracking and surveillance beforehand, while others argued the victims were simply caught lacking at the wrong location.
Another major point of discussion involved why police paperwork often referred to the surrounding area as Jaro City. Users debated whether STL, EBT, and Jaro should be considered separate factions or whether police simply grouped the entire 63rd area together under broader naming conventions.
The deeper people went into the paperwork, the more the case transformed from a standard homicide into a full internet mystery fueled by endless interpretation and speculation.
Not fully. I touched on parts of it, but that specific Reddit thread adds a lot more detailed speculation and names that should absolutely go into the “Speculation & Reddit Theories” section of the full premium case file.
The biggest additions from that thread are:
The theory that there were possibly 3 to 4 total participants involved instead of just the 2 offenders officially described in the FOIA.
The specific rumored breakdown people on Reddit kept repeating:Makado as one shooter.Cap as another alleged shooter.HK allegedly waiting in the cut or gangway area.C Murda allegedly involved.Trey 5 allegedly driving.Some users also claimed Memo may have been in one of the cars.
The thread also heavily pushes the theory that HK may have been the person who allegedly shot Brick in the face while another shooter focused on Coby. Again, none of that is officially confirmed in the homicide paperwork, but it became one of the strongest recurring Reddit theories attached to the case.
Another major thing from that thread is how much people kept tying the murders to the larger retaliation chain involving Sheroid, Duck, STL, O’Block, and 600. Multiple users referenced Duck dissing Sheroid in songs and argued that certain people allegedly took the situation personally for years afterward. That emotional revenge angle is a huge part of why the case became mythologized online instead of just discussed like a normal homicide.
You should definitely add a full section like this into the site version:
Reddit’s Theory Of The Kill Team
One of the most discussed Reddit theories surrounding the Brick and Coby murders was the belief that more offenders were involved than what appeared inside the official homicide narrative. While the FOIA repeatedly referenced two offenders during the attack, many users inside r/Chiraqology argued the actual operation may have involved three or four total participants between shooters, drivers, and support vehicles.
A widely repeated theory inside the subreddit claimed Makado and Cap were the primary shooters while HK allegedly waited deeper inside the gangway area during the chase. Other users believed Trey 5 may have acted as the driver while C Murda allegedly participated in some portion of the operation. Several commenters also claimed Memo may have been present in one of the vehicles connected to the shooting, although no official paperwork publicly confirmed those claims.
The theory surrounding HK became especially popular because users believed the suspect description inside the FOIA partially matched his age and appearance at the time. Multiple commenters claimed HK may have been the offender positioned inside the gangway who allegedly fired the close range shots at Brick while another shooter focused on Coby Mack near the front portion of the property. Other users strongly disagreed with that interpretation and argued the internet was building conclusions from incomplete paperwork and street rumors.
Another major layer of the Reddit discussion involved motive. Many commenters connected the murders to years of escalating retaliation tied to Sheroid, STL, O’Block, and ongoing diss tracks between rival factions. Some users argued certain people allegedly viewed the murders as revenge connected to earlier deaths and public disrespect inside songs. That theory became even bigger after users began analyzing lyrics from FBG Duck songs and older drill tracks for possible references to the shooting.
That section would fit perfectly into the premium site version because it separates the official homicide paperwork from the internet reconstruction theories without presenting rumors as verified facts.
1.Makado (600/GBG)🕊️
2.Cap (600/GBG)
3.C-Murda (O'Block/GBG)🔒
4.Trey 5 (O'Block/GBG)
4.Trey 5 (O'Block/GBG)
Why This Case Still Matters
The Brick and Coby murders became much bigger than a single homicide investigation. For many people following Chicago drill culture, the case symbolized the escalation of one of the most violent and widely publicized street conflicts ever tied to rap music and internet culture.
The combination of broad daylight violence, gangway pursuit details, witness identification paperwork, shell casing evidence, suspected retaliatory motives, and the appearance of known drill figures inside the homicide file turned the case into one of the most analyzed FOIA releases ever discussed online.
Even years later, people still debate the exact number of offenders involved, who played what role, and whether the public truly knows everything investigators uncovered behind the scenes. The official paperwork provided pieces of the story, but the internet turned the case into something much larger — a murder investigation permanently frozen between official evidence, street rumors, drill lyrics, and online obsession.
