Man gets 25 years for death of accomplice Deonta Mackey as they tried to rob off-duty sheriff's deputy

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:23:17 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Devante Graham | Cook County sheriff's office

A Pullman man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday after admitting he robbed an off-duty Cook County sheriff’s sergeant, who ended up shooting one of his accomplices, Deonta Mackey, during the crime.

Devante Graham, 20, was originally charged with murder based on the theory of accountability for the February 2014 incident outside a Citgo gas station in the 700 block of East 103rd Street.

That charge and others were dropped after Graham pleaded guilty to armed robbery before Judge James Linn on Tuesday, according to court records.

Emmanuel Johnson, now 17, was also charged with the murder of Mackey. He is still awaiting trial.

Mackey, who was armed with a 9 mm semi-automatic gun, was killed when he and the other two tried to rob the off-duty sergeant, prosecutors said.

Graham allegedly threatened the officer’s life, then demanded he turn over all his money and the contents of his pockets.

The officer gave the 16-year-old Mackey money and gum, while Johnson went into the officer’s car and started rummaging through the glove box, court records show.

When Mackey, still pointing the gun at the officer, asked him to turn over his wallet and car keys, the officer reached into his pockets, grabbed his gun and shot Mackey, prosecutors said.

Johnson, who dropped a bag he had taken from the officer’s vehicle, and Graham eventually turned themselves in.

After the shooting, many Chicago Public Schools students told authorities the suspects had posted pictures of themselves with guns on Facebook, prosecutors had said.

Detectives later determined one of the weapons in the pictures was used in the deadly robbery, authorities said.

Teenage accomplices charged with murder after Deonta Mackey fatally shot trying to rob off-duty cop

Jeff Mayes — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:31:51 -0600

Two teenagers have been charged charged with murder for the death of Deonta Mackey, who was shot by an off-duty police officer the three were trying to rob, according to police and prosecutors.

Emmanuel Johnson, 15, and Devante Graham, 17, were ordered held on bonds of $2 million and $1 million respectively in connection with the armed robbery of an off-duty Cook County Sheriff's sergeant.

Both are charged with one count each of first-degree murder and armed robbery with a firearm, according to Chicago Police.

They are charged with their cohort's death based on the theory of accountability after the off-duty sheriff's sergeant killed the 16-year-old Mackey when he was robbed by the trio Monday night at a Citgo gas station in the 700 block of East 103rd Street, authorities said.

Mackey was armed with a 9 mm semi automatic gun when he threatened the officer's life, and demanded he turn over his money and everything from his pockets, according to prosecutors and court documents.

Graham, who had his hands in his pockets, further motioned for the officer to hurry up, according to court records.

The officer gave Mackey money and gum, while Johnson allegedly went into the officer's car and started rummaging through the glove box, court records show.

At that point, Mackey, still pointing his gun at the officer, asked him to give him his wallet and car keys. That's when the officer reached into his pockets, grabbed his gun and shot Mackey.

Once the shots were fired, Graham and Johnson fled, with Johnson dropping a bag he had taken from the officer's vehicle, according to court documents.

The entire incident was captured on nearby video surveillance cameras and the officer identified Graham and Johnson as two of the teens in the trio who robbed him, prosecutors claim.

Johnson turned himself in to police after he saw the surveillance video aired on television, court records show. Graham also turned himself in.

After the shooting, many Chicago Public Schools students told authorities the suspects had posted pictures of themselves with guns on Facebook, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Claire Savaglio said at Graham's bond hearing.

Upon further investigation, detectives learned one of the weapons in the pictures was used in the deadly robbery, Savaglio said.

That weapon has been recovered.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Emmanuel Johnson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Man gets 25 years for death of accomplice Deonta Mackey as they tried to rob off-duty sheriff's deputy

Teenage accomplices charged with murder after Deonta Mackey fatally shot trying to rob off-duty cop