Two Teens Charged In Shooting Death Of 15-Year-Old In Chicago's Douglas Neighborhood; Police Say One Suspect Was On Electronic Monitoring
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two boys, ages 15 and 16, were charged Wednesday in the shooting that killed 15-year-old Michael Brown in the Douglas community the day before.
As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported Wednesday night, this case highlights two problems. One is youngsters dying repeatedly on the streets of Chicago, while the other is the lack of supervision going on with juvenile offenders running the streets on electronic monitoring.
The accused 16-year-old shooter was wearing an ankle bracelet – but police said that was not enough to keep him out of more trouble.
It is difficult for so many to wrap their heads around a teenager gunned down while walking home from school. Yet at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Brown had just left Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville when Chicago Police said two teens pulled up in a stolen sport-utility vehicle in the 3300 block of South Prairie Avenue and opening fire.
"Obviously, it's clear it was targeted," said police Supt. David Brown.
The 16-year-old boy is accused of getting out of the car and opening fire to the tune of about 10 rounds. Michael was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital.
Meanwhile, police said the two teenage suspects were arrested at 3:43 p.m. Tuesday at 63rd and State streets. Police said they were still joyriding around 30 minutes after the murder in the very same SUV that police said they had stolen at gunpoint in the 200 block of South Kildare Avenue in West Garfield Park earlier that day.
No one was injured in the armed carjacking, but Supt. Brown said this was not the 16-year-old's first time in handcuffs.
Brown said the teen shooter was electronic monitoring. While he would not talk about the juvenile arrest, it is clear the ankle bracelet did little to steer the young man onto the right track.
"(We're) losing too many young people and it's really sad. There's another family, another neighborhood another community left to pick up the pieces after living their worst nightmare," Brown said. "No family, no block, no community in the city of Chicago should have to endure the looming threat of guns and gangs. I have to say from the 15-year-old who was gunned down to the 16-year-old who so carelessly took his life this is a tragedy. There are too many incidents like this."
Now, Michael's family grieves, and the 16-year-old suspect's life is forever changed.
"This happens all too often, and every time it does, our city should be shaken - because our futures are at stake," Brown said.
The 16-year-old is expected to be charged as an adult with the teen's murder and the armed carjacking. When he steps before a judge for a bond hearing Thursday, we should learn why he was on supervised release at the time of the incident.
The 15-year-old is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
