Three More Teens In Court For Murder Of 15-Year-Old
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Three more teenagers were in court Tuesday afternoon to face charges in the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy who tried to defend his twin brother from the muggers.
Deafro Brakes, 17, Tarik Brakes, 16 and Isiah Penn, 17 were each charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted armed robbery with a firearm. A judge ordered Deafro and Tarik Brakes held without bail, and set Penn's bond at $2 million.
A fourth alleged accomplice, 17-year-old Carlos Johnson – was denied bail Monday, after he was charged with murder, armed robbery, and attempted armed robbery.
All four teenage defendants have been charged as adults in the Saturday slaying of 15-year-old Demario Bailey. Police and prosecutors have not yet said which of the four allegedly pulled the trigger.
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said the killing shows the importance of maintaining automatic transfer of 15 and 16 year olds to adult courts for adult crimes like murder, sexual assault and robbery with a gun.
Demario was walking to basketball practice with his brother, Demacio, when four young men attacked them, and began going through their pockets. A fight ensued, and when Demario tried to protect his brother, one of the robbers shot him in the chest, according to Cook County prosecutors.
Demacio ran away after hearing the gunshot, but came back after realizing Demario wasn't with him, and found him lying on the ground. Demario died within minutes.
Prosecutors said surveillance cameras in the area showed the four robbers entering the viaduct just before the shooting, and exiting shortly after.
All four suspects also allegedly were involved in two other robberies in the same viaduct, shortly before the mugging that led to Demario's death.
Meantime, Johnson College Prep, the charter school in Englewood where Demario was a sophomore, held a memorial assembly Tuesday morning, on what would have been his 16th birthday.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports it was a very moving memorial and perhaps the most powerful moments took place when Demario's mother, Delores Fitzpatrick, went up to speak.
"They took my one baby, I am going to do my best to pick up 101 babies," she pledged.
Bailey's twin brother Demacio sat by her side. Both listened as classmates and teachers alike shared their thoughts for more than an hour.
At times, there were emotional outbursts and lots of tears. But everyone described Demario as a positive, smart uplifting young man. As one student said to Bailey's twin, you lost one brother but gained so many more.
Delores says she is helping Demacio by "encouraging him and telling him that God is able to do anything and everything but fail."
Public visitation for Bailey has been scheduled for Friday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Callahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St. His funeral will be held Saturday, starting with a viewing at 9 a.m., and a service at 10 a.m., at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 754 E. 77th St.