Jaran Hughes Charged With Murder Of 12-Year-Old Marcell Wilson In Englewood
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 21-year-old man has been charged in the January shooting death of 12-year-old Marcell Wilson, who was shot while sitting on a bed in a home in Englewood.
Police said Jaran Hughes was arrested Tuesday in Racine, Wisconsin, after he was identified as the man who fired the shot that killed Marcell, as he was sitting on a bed in the rear bedroom of a home in the 5500 block of South Aberdeen Street around 11:25 p.m. on Jan. 2.
Prosecutors said Hughes was a longtime friend of one of Marcell's older brothers, and on the night of the shooting, went to the house after his girlfriend kicked him out of her house.
As Marcell and his 13-year-old sister were in the bedroom playing video games, Hughes was sitting on the bed and called his girlfriend on Facetime, while holding a black semi-automatic firearm with an extended magazine, according to prosecutors.
When Marcell began teasing Hughes about his girlfriend, Hughes "took exception" and pointed the gun at Marcell, whose sister repeatedly asked Hughes to put the gun away. Instead, Hughes racked the slide on the gun, pointed it at Marcell, and shot him once in the chest.
Marcell then ran to his mother's room, holding his chest, saying 'He shot me, He shot me," while trying to reach his mom, according to prosecutors. When he collapsed on the floor, his oldest brother applied pressure to the gunshot wound. Marcell was taken to Comer Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Hughes didn't say anything after shooting Marcell, and ran out of the house; leaving his phone, jacket, and one shoe behind, prosecutors said. Officers followed his footprints in the snow to a nearby alley, where they found his other shoe.
Police later obtained search warrants for Hughes' girlfriend's Facebook accounts, and discovered a conversation in which Hughes said "his life is over because of what happened and that he is going to jail," prosecutors said.
Investigators learned Hughes had fled the state to stay with cousins in Racine. He was taken into custody on Jan. 14, and extradited back to Cook County on Tuesday.
He has been ordered held without bail while he awaits trial.
