Three of four teens accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy who was walking his twin brother to basketball practice over the weekend appeared in court Tuesday, on what would have been the boy's 16th birthday.
Isiah Penn and Deafro Brakes, both 17, and Tarik Brakes, 16, were charged as adults Monday with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted armed robbery.
Both Tarik and Deafro Brakes were held without bail Tuesday, while Penn's bail was set at $2 million.
A fourth teen charged in the murder, 17-year-old Carlos Johnson, was held without bail Monday, police said.
Demario Bailey was walking with his twin brother to basketball practice in the 0-100 block of West 63rd Street Saturday when four people approached him, demanded money and tried to take his jacket. One of the robbers then took out a gun and shot Bailey in the chest, killing him just days before what would have been his 16th birthday.
"The facts of this case are almost too disturbing to comprehend," said Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Prosecutors allege the four teens robbed two other men just minutes before Demario Bailey was murdered.
"The biggest concern right now is up in the air of what actually happened, who is guilty of what," said David Peilet, the attorney for Tarik and Deafro Brakes.
Attorneys said Tuesday it is unclear who pulled the trigger, but prosecutors alleged Tarik held the gun in prior robberies.
"They're all accountable for each other's actions," Alvarez said. "This was a group effort."
The defendants are expected to appear in court again Jan. 5.
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An emotional memorial was held Tuesday afternoon at the Johnson College Prep, about a half mile from the crime scene.
On Monday, his twin brother, Demacio Bailey, played in a basketball tournament in his sibling's honor.
“[Demacio] said ‘I’m going to live for my brother mamma, I’m going to the pros,” said Delores Bailey, the twins’ mother. “Sometimes God takes one, but he left me one and I thank him for that.”
The boys’ mother said she will commit herself to protecting other children in Chicago from violence.
“I’m going to make sure that every last boy gets a basketball and I’m going to make sure that every girl gets a pom-pom if I can. I’m going to get a bus, I’m going to use every dime I got and I’m going to drop them off and pick them up and I’m going to make sure they get back to their mammas myself,” Delores Bailey said. “Devil you took one, I’m going to take 101 and let them live.”
