Teen Shot And Killed While Playing Video Games
LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, Ill. (CBS) -- A 14-year-old boy was shot and killed and his cousin was injured as they were playing video games in their bedroom in southwest suburban Lockport Township.
Deont'e Lesley was killed when someone opened fire outside his home in the 400 block of Fairmont Avenue in unincorporated Will County Monday night. Police said the killers fired indiscriminately into the house.
As CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports, Deont'e and his 17-year-old cousin were playing video games when they were shot.
Both boys were taken to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, where Deont'e was pronounced dead, Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas said. His cousin was wounded, but survived.
On Tuesday, the boys' family was overcome with grief at the senseless murder. Crime scene tape still surrounded the house as they tried to return, only to be turned away by Will County sheriff's police.
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Deont'e's older brother found him on his bed slumped over.
"I can't believe anyone would do this to my little brother," Javon Lesley said. "It's crazy!"
Deont'e's mother, Antoinette Walker, was home with her children when the shots that claimed her son rang out around 8:15 p.m. She hit the floor, dialed 911 and immediately began to pray.
"After the shots I said, 'Javon, are you OK? Javon, are you OK?' And he said, 'Mama, yes, I'm OK,' Walker said. "And then, my sister, she yelled out, 'Deont'e, where are you at? Are you OK? Are you OK, Deont'e? And we heard no response."
Deont'e couldn't answer because he had been shot in the head. Javon ran to his younger brother, but there was simply nothing he could do.
"I started working his back, telling him to breathe, because he was still breathing," Javon Lesley said, "I didn't know he was hit twice. I didn't know he got hit in the ankle. I felt it when I grabbed him, tried to hug him, tell him to breathe."
Deont'e's cousin was grazed by a bullet, and was treated and released from Silver Cross.
As CBS 2's Susanna Song reports, Deont'e had dreams of making it to the NFL, and those dreams included his mother.
"He said, I'm going to take of you, mama, when I make it big. You'll never have anything to worry about, because I'm going to take care of you," Walker said. "I truly miss my baby. I really do."
Deont'e's football coach said he was an unbelievable kid who was good-hearted and had a bright future ahead of him.
Deont'e had a big smile and a big dream when he wore his blue jersey on the football field for the Joliet Raiders.
"We miss him already, and it's only been not even a day and you could feel the difference, we just love you," his aunt, Tonnja May said.
Deont'e's relatives said he was the shining light in the family and in the neighborhood.
"One of our youth that was going to leave home and make something of himself, and he just didn't get the chance," May said.
"We lost one of the most charismatic little dudes that ever came out of here. He was going somewhere," his cousin, Phillip Henry added.
That's also how Deont'e's teammates and head coach on the Joliet Raiders felt about him.
Carol Noyola, the Raiders' treasurer and team board member, said Deont'e was a star on the team.
"He was an aggressive player. He enjoyed it and he was really good at it, very good at it," Noyola said.
Sheriff's police said they are looking for one or two shooters, and are investigating whether the incident was linked to recent shootings in the area.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli and Susanna Song and Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser contributed to this report.
