Teen charged in shooting death of 15-year-old Demario Bailey

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 17-year-old male has been charged with murder in the shooting death of 15-year-old Demario Bailey, killed in front of his twin brother when he refused to give up his coat.

Police are not releasing the name of the teen, who was charged with three felony counts including first degree murder, but at least three more people may have been involved.

Hugs and tears Sunday night at the scene of the shooting on the city's South Side, as friends and classmates of Demario pray for a grieving family.

"It doesn't make sense for these kids to be dying like this. My cousin was on his way to play basketball," said Faliata Holman. "He wasn't a drug-dealer. He wasn't a gang-banger. He was an upstanding kid."

Sunday evening, charges were filed against a 17-year-old male, including one count of first degree murder. Police say the investigation is on-going into the death of Demario, who on Tuesday was to turn 16.

"I'm so tired of our black youths dying for nothing," said South Side resident Gloria Merritt.

A memorial now grows under the viaduct near 63rd and State where the shooting took place Saturday.

Police say Demario was walking with his twin brother Demacio. The siblings confronted by four men, who relatives say demanded Demario's coat. When he refused, he was shot in the chest.

"Somebody come and try to take something from you, and he don't want it. He don't have to give you nothing. And you just shoot him and kill him like that? That's just wrong," said family friend Rochetta Tyler.

"To kill another brother over a coat is just senseless," said community activist Corey Hardiman. "If you need a coat, call on us. We will help you."

Demario was a tenth grader at Johnson College Prep and was described as inseparable from his twin brother Demacio, who is now devastated.

"He's traumatized, you know. Traumatized. Can you imagine you're walking with your brother one minute. The next minute, your brother is laying on the ground," Holman said.

One of Demario's relatives told ABC7 Eyewitness News that she did not believe that suspect knew the two brothers.