Tramell McGraw-Anderson / Photo from Chicago Police
BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor
Tramell McGraw-Anderson has been charged with murder for allegedly killing 14-year-old Tommie McNeal with an AR-15 assault rifle he was showing off at a Greater Grand Crossing area home in September.
However, McGraw-Anderson’s mother said the shooting happened during an attempted robbery.
Prosecutors claim McGraw-Anderson, 22, brought the AR-15 in a Duffle Bag to an acquaintance’s home in the 6900 block of South Vernon Avenue about 1:30 p.m. Sept. 20.
He was showing off the gun to others on the porch — including 14-year-old Tommie McNeal and an unidentified 16-year-old — but became paranoid the teens were going to steal the weapon, prosecutors said.
McGraw-Anderson went to the back of the residence and fired the assault rifle down the gangway at McNeal, prosecutors said.
McNeal, of the 7200 block of South Rhodes Avenue, was shot in the back and dead on the scene, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
However, McGraw-Anderson’s mother, Shanaria Stemley, said the shooting happened during an attempted robbery and her son panicked and fled.
Stemley said McGraw-Anderson and two friends had planned on going to the gun range then to play basketball. McGraw-Anderson went to the 6900 block of South Vernon Avenue to pick up his friend, who was not yet home.
While McGraw-Anderson was waiting in front of the home, two males approached then left, Stemley said. The men came back a few minutes later in a van and McGraw-Anderson started walking towards the back of his friend’s house, she said.
Two males near the garage then charged at McGraw-Anderson and shots were fired, Stemley said. After the shooting, everyone fled and McGraw-Anderson called his mother, she said.
“I told him you need to stay and talk to him,” Stemley said. “He panicked. He didn’t know what to do because he hasn’t been involved in anything like this.”
After the shooting, a witness saw McGraw-Anderson break down the assault rifle and put it back into the bag, prosecutors said. McGraw-Anderson then ran away through an alley with the rifle in the bag.
A witness positively identified McGraw-Anderson as the shooter, prosecutors said. He also allegedly told another person that he shot McNeal.
McGraw-Anderson, of the 5900 block of South Emerald Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered him held on $1 million bond.
McGraw-Anderson has a 4-year-old daughter and works as a security guard at Advanced Security Systems, his public defender said. He is a high school graduate and is taking classes at Harold Washington College. Stemley said her son went to Phillips High School and enjoys video games and skateboarding.