Demario Bailey remembered; 3 murder suspects appear in court
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Three teenagers charged in the murder of Demario Bailey, 15, appeared in court on Tuesday. Bailey was fatally shot while walking to basketball practice with his twin brother, Demacio.
Charged in the murder are brothers Deafro and Tarik Brakes, 17 and 16; Isiah Penn, 17; and Carlos Johnson, 17. All face murder, armed robbery and attempted robbery charges and will be tried as adults.
"This was a very adult crime with very adult consequences for everyone involved," Anita Alvarez said.
Prosecutors did not say which suspect allegedly pulled the trigger, but Tarik Brakes was the last suspect to be seen with the gun, they said.
"Initially he had it, but we don't know if he had it during the time of the alleged first-degree murder," David Peilet, Brakes' family attorney, said.
The Brakes brothers are being held without bond, as is Johnson, who appeared in court on Monday. Penn is being held on $2 million.
Demario was killed during a robbery in the Englewood neighborhood on Saturday. The offenders held up the twins under a dark viaduct in the 6100-block of South King Drive, prosecutors said, and wanted Demario's navy blue Columbia winter jacket.
Family members said Delores Bailey, a single mom, had worked hard to save the money for the twins' coats and Demario refused to give it up. That's when Demario was shot to death, prosecutors said.
The group had robbed two others just minutes before, prosecutors said.
Memorials held on Chicago's North, South sides
Demario and Demacio were headed to Johnson College Prep charter school where Demacio had basketball practice. They were walking the half mile from the bus stop when they were jumped, officials said.
There were tributes to Demario on the north and south sides of the city. His school held a memorial on Tuesday, which would have been Demario's 16th birthday. Demario was a sophomore honors student.
"I didn't want to believe it at all. It just tore me apart. I couldn't do nothing but cry," Deavion Ramsey, Demario's friend, said.
"Thank you for being a loving friend, a loving brother and a loving son. You will be missed more than you know" teacher Rachel Terry said.
At the vigil, Delores Bailey asked students to hug whoever was next to them.
"I want you guys to love on each other. That's all you (have) got. Money (doesn't) matter. Out of town? Buy a car? Some new shoes? Hairdo? Nails done? At the end of the day, you ain't nothing if you ain't got nobody to love," Delores Bailey said.
A prayer vigil was held Tuesday night at North Park University on Chicago's North Side.
Demario's funeral will be this Saturday at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, and there's a public viewing on Friday at Callahan Funeral Home.
The court appearances and memorial come on the same day Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a plan to reduce violence.
