Demario Bailey | Homicide Watch Chicago

South Side school, touched again by violence, gets a gift to help keep students safe

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 09:00:04 -0500

By MAUDYNE IHEJIRIKA
Chicago Sun-Times

Demario Bailey's mother, Delores Bailey, speaks at the birthday observation and memorial for Demario at Johnson College Prep, December 16, 2014. | James Foster / For Sun-Times Media

This is a story about a Chicago cop, a mom, an SUV and an Englewood school that’s had to come to grips twice in the past year-and-a-half with the killing of a student off-campus.

Englewood's Johnson College Prep was left reeling when Demario Bailey, a 15-year-old honor student, was shot to death on Dec. 13, 2014, gunned down when he and his twin brother, Demacio Bailey, who were on their way to school for a basketball game, were jumped and robbed. Authorities have charged four teenagers with first-degree murder.

The school community again was shaken last month by the May 14 killing of 15-year-old track star De'Kayla Dansberry, stabbed to death by a 13-year-old girl whose mother gave her a switchblade for a street brawl, according to police and prosecutors, who have charged both with murder.

The key to the SUV on a keychain bearing Demario Bailey’s photo.

Schools can't protect students off-campus and after-hours from the spiraling violence that has resulted in nearly 300 killings so far this year in Chicago, says Matthew Brown, principal of Johnson College Prep, which is part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools.

"We feel very confident in our ability to keep them safe on campus and around campus," Brown says. "But it's a big city. We can't be with them all the time.”

That’s where the cop and the mom come in. Demario's death deeply affected Officer John Bertetto, who was assigned to the case. He got to know Demario’s twin brother and their mother, Delores Bailey.

Determined to try to prevent other parents from having to go through what she did, Delores Bailey had started a service to ferry neighborhood kids to and from extracurricular activities. Bertetto, 39, says he was inspired by her faith and her courage.

Bailey: "After the guys were caught, John came by a few times to check on Demacio. He'd just check in, saying, 'Is everything fine? Are you guys OK?' Then, after he found out what I was trying to do with helping to transport the kids, he said he wanted to help."

John Bertetto

Bertetto: "I waited until I was on vacation in February 2015 and launched the effort via social media, asking for the donation of an SUV. After several months and not having received a donation, I put the effort on the back burner. But in December 2015 I got a letter from a fellow Chicago Police officer. He'd heard what I was trying to do. He said that his kids attend Noble Network schools, and he had this SUV he'd bought for a second vehicle at home but would let me have it for what he just paid for it"—$3,000.

On his next vacation, in February, Bertetto launched an online GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising $5,000, the extra $2,000 to cover refurbishing the seven-seat SUV.

By May, 152 people had contributed $5,550—mostly $10 here, another $25 there. It was enough to deliver the SUV just before the end of school, with $1,000 left for future upkeep.

Brown says the vehicle will be used to get students to and from school-sponsored, off-campus activities.

"It allows us to safely transport seven basketball players to a tournament, for example,” he says. “We have students attending all types of life skills-enrichment activities, internships. We tried different things, like having parents do dropoff and pickup at events. Or we'd say, 'You have to get a ride.' But that's not always possible.

"This makes it easier for us to open opportunities to kids without worrying about safe passage. For a college prep that really wants to expose kids to all the city has to offer, his donation is very much appreciated."

Bertetto, a South Sider, has gotten some attention for what he did, in part because he’s a cop and the police have come under scrutiny in Chicago lately.

"I understand why the interest that I'm a police officer,” he says. “But this is something I did on my free time. This is about Demario and what happened to him. This is not about me.”

Bailey, whose son was three days from turning 16 when he was killed, says of Bertetto: "People say and do things, and you never really know what their motives are. He wound up delivering and being a man of his word.

"He said he has a family and children, and what happened to my son touched his heart.

“This is just a good person. People talk about police all the time. But this shows there are some good police out here."

Vigil allows mothers to grieve with others about losing a son, and gain inspiration in the process

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:00:34 -0600

Among the mothers taking part in the Vigil to End Gun Violence were, from right: Bouchelle Stokes, Gwen Baxter, Toneya McIntosh, Donna Hall, Shundra Robinson, Floressa Smith and "Mother" Morgan. | Kwijona Calvin/Homicide Watch Chicago

By KWIJONA CALVIN
Homicide Watch Chicago

“I am not a stranger to pain. My husband and son are gone due to gun violence.”

That is the sad truth for Gwen Baxter, founder of the Greater Roseland Community Committee’s Youth Voices Against Violence, and many others who have lost loved one to violence in Chicago.

Last week, Baxter led the National Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence in Chicago at The Peace Center, where a gathering that might seem sorrowful to an outsider turned inspirational.

Women from the organization SISTERHOOD, a group of mothers who have lost children to gun violence, had the opportunity to share their personal stories about their children.

Donna Hall, mother of Marshall Fields-Hall, who was murdered at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 5500 W. North Ave on Jan. 18, 2013, set the tone for the evening.

Marshall Fields-Hall

“When I look out, and I see all these pink shirts, I get it. I’m not alone, because if it wasn’t for the sisterhood, I don’t think I would be here,” she said.

Hall described her son as a just-turned-21-year-old who wanted to experience the fun side of adult life, but never got the chance.

“He went to the casino with my father because he had just turned 21. When they came back home, him and I sat at the table to eat, and then he left back out and he never returned home,” Hall said.

Fields-Hall went to Popeyes to meet up with friends, and while sitting in the dining area, he was shot several times through a glass window. He died an hour later.

“They didn’t realize when they killed my son, they killed a part of me,” Hall said.

The case is still open, but Hall says Chicago Police are doing all that they can.

“I keep in touch with the detectives on the case. I talk to them at least once every two weeks. The police can’t do it all on their own. I don’t like the no-snitching rule people live by, because people know what happened and they know who did it. But if no one wants to come forward, the police can’t do anything. The public has to speak up,” she said.

Next month, Hall is planning a memorial in front of Popeyes on Jan. 18, the day her son was murdered.

Another member of SISTERHOOD, Shundra Robinson, was at first reluctant about joining the group.

“I was in labor for fourteen-and-a-half hours bringing my son into this world, and many people say that’s the worst pain in the world, but I beg to differ. The pain that I feel now after he was murdered is greater than the pain I experienced bringing Deno into the world.”

Deno Wooldridge | Facebook

Deno Wooldridge was murdered October 18, 2010, when he was 18. He was standing on his grandmother’s porch with his family and friends when he was shot and killed.

Robinson doesn’t deny that her son may have been part of a gang, but says that doesn’t mean he should’ve been taken.

“Everyone isn’t gang-affiliated, and so what if they are, you don’t know what they are going through. They may not have mothers and fathers raising them. Put your arms around them and love them instead of talking about them.”

Wooldridge’s murder also remains unsolved, but police are actively trying to find his killer, according to Robinson.

While many of the women who spoke at the vigil were invited, they had a guest who didn’t intend on coming.

“I came in here today to see if this space was available for my son’s surprise birthday party. I was unaware you all would be here tonight,” said Delores Bailey, mother of twin boys, Demacio and Demario Bailey.

On a recent cold December day, the twins begged their mother to be allowed to take the bus and go play basketball.

“My boys eat, sleep and drink basketball, that day they asked to go play basketball. I said, 'Guys you see me home from work, I don’t feel good'.”

Demario Bailey

Bailey drove her kids everywhere, but that day she was home sick with a hernia inside her naval, which had enlarged from carrying the twins full-term.

“We are 15 and have never got on the bus,” the boys implored.

Bailey decided to let Demacio and Demario take the bus for the first time, a decision she thought long and hard about.

As the twins made their way toward Johnson College Prep around 12:30 p.m., out on the sidewalk of West 63rd street, they were approached by four gunman whom requested Demario’s coat.

After refusing to give up his coat, he was shot in the chest and died at the scene.

“December 13 is around the corner, and I can’t believe it’s been almost a year without him," Bailey said. "Someone told me to take it day by day. I stopped doing that and I take it second by second.”

The gunmen in the case were captured and charged with the murder of Demario Bailey.

A balloon release was held in his honor Sunday outside Johnson College Prep.

Mother of slain teen Demario Bailey tells mourners to 'love your babies'

Michael Lansu — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:39:40 -0600

BY TINA SFONDELES
Chicago Sun-Times

The mother of slain teen Demario Bailey had a message for the thousands of mourners at his funeral Saturday.

“Today, I ask of you all to live and not die, for my son,” Delores Bailey said. “The way you can do that for me is to just love all your babies. You all want to change the world? Your kids are the world. It starts with them.”

Delores Bailey sat near the front of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church with her family, including Demario’s twin brother Demacio, dressed in his Johnson College Prep uniform.

Hundreds of Demario’s classmates and friends packed the church. At one point, dozens of the school’s basketball players and cheerleaders put on t-shirts which read “Live And Not Die” and “Get Us Home.”

Demario Bailey's funeral / Photo by Al Podgorski

Just days shy of his 16th birthday, Demario was killed Dec. 13 when four teens shot and robbed him of his winter coat near 63rd and State streets. Demario was going with his brother to Demacio’s high school basketball practice. They were walking the rest of the way to school after getting off a bus.

The four teens have been charged as adults in his death.

On Saturday, Delores Bailey’s words brought mourners to their feet. Many were recording her eulogy. She told them God is working within her to send a message.

“I promised myself when I see them lay my baby on the ground that I would stand up because he couldn’t,” Delores Bailey said. “They took one of mine. I’m coming for a thousand one of theirs. One of mine didn’t make it through the tunnel, but a 101 will if I got something to do with it.”

Demario Bailey / Submitted photo

The mourning mother has asked the city and Mayor Rahm Emanuel for cars to transport children in Englewood to their extra-curricular activities, to prevent what happened to Demario from ever happening again. Delores Bailey has vowed to fight for the children of her neighborhood.

“God knew I was going to stand up to fight,” Delores Bailey said. “I ain’t going nowhere. If I got to put them in a Neon, I’m going to bring them home.”

She said she doesn’t question why God took away her son. And she urged parents to love and pay attention to their children.

“I will not be selfish,” she said. “He gave me 16 years, and I won’t ask for nothing else. I will not even question my God. But who I will question is every person in this room. Stand up for your kids. We have been there, done that. They are our future. Without them, we ain’t nothing ... I want you to stand up and hug your child. Love your child. Be there for your child. And no matter what they do, love them anyway.”

She also had a message for the four teens charged with her son’s murder.

“To the boys that took my babies, I’m sorry. I wish I would have had a chance to love on ya’ll,” Delores Bailey said. “I’m sorry that you all got to spend the rest of your life in prison because your mama didn’t love you. And you can say that mamas ain’t go nothing to do with it. The devil is a liar. Because if you love them, they wouldn’t pick up no gun and blow out nobody’s brains.”

Demario Bailey's funeral / Photo by Al Podgorski

Demario’s grandmother Bernice Fitzpatrick also made her grandson’s death a call for parents to lead their children into good lives, lives rid of crime and full of purpose.

“Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, anybody that can help, get your babies,” Fitzpatrick said. “I want to say get your babies, because they’re dying like dogs. If you love them, if you care for them, the devil can’t snatch them.”

Fitzpatrick reminded mourners that her grandson died protecting someone he loved.

“We raised him to be honorable. He protected his brother. He wouldn’t let nobody steal his pride and dignity,” Fitzpatrick said.

Emanuel sat several rows behind the family, paying his respects to Demario, hugging Delores Bailey and kneeling to speak with her for several minutes before the service.

Emanuel spoke during the service, pausing often to collect himself. The mayor’s 17-year-old son was himself a robbery victim Friday night outside the family’s Ravenswood home.

“There’s an angel in this room. He’s one of God’s angels, and he’s lying down. But he stands tall among us,” Emanuel said. “There’s nothing in this room when you see the love, when you see the passion, and you see the strength. This room is stronger than what is out there, with the hatred. Don’t ever allow this love, this passion and this strength to think it’s less than the darkness and the evil that sometimes lurks out there.”

The mayor also urged Chicagoans to “do better.”

“We will not be who we are and can be to these children, to these young souls if Ravenswood is not as pained as Roseland; if Englewood is not as angry as Woodlawn; and if Sauganash is not hurt as much as South Shore,” Emanuel said. “These are Chicagoans and God’s children, and we must take this as our measure because Delores is not the only one being challenged and called upon. All of us are being called upon.”

Demario’s classmates shared stories about the teen: his girlfriend sharing her excitement when she first learned he shared her affection; a friend recalling a day Demario cheered him up on a bad day; and another friend sharing a story about Demario knocking on his bedroom window to wake him up for school, then blaming it on a cat.

At the end of the service, Pastor John Harrah brought the teens in the church up to use Demario’s “casket as an altar,” asking them to vow to have God in their lives and to do good in Demario’s name.

UPDATE: Three more charged with murder in Englewood shooting death of 15-year-old Demario Bailey

Michael Lansu — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 18:17:33 -0600

BY SUN-TIMES STAFF

Demacio and Demario Bailey were supposed to be celebrating their 16th birthday on Tuesday. Instead, two other brothers stood before a judge, accused of being part of a robbery spree that left Demario dead under an Englewood viaduct.

Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said brothers Tarik and Deafro Brakes, along with Isiah Penn and Carlos Johnson, went to the viaduct in the 0-100 block of West 63rd Street Saturday afternoon with a “preconceived plan” to rob people at gunpoint.

After the group robbed a 17-year-old boy and 33-year-old man they moved on to the Bailey brothers, who were walking through the viaduct on their way to Johnson College Prep, where Demacio had basketball practice.

After confronting the Bailey brothers, “the offenders, while brandishing a loaded handgun, began to rifle through the victim’s pockets as they said, ‘Give it up,’” Santini had said.

When the Bailey brothers resisted, one of the robbers shot Demario. Relatives said Demario was fatally shot in the chest when he wouldn’t hand over the winter coat his mother had recently bought him.

Demacio ran after hearing the gunshot, Santini said.

“After reaching the end of the viaduct, the 15-year-old victim realized that his brother wasn’t with him and immediately returned to the viaduct,” Santini said. “He found his twin brother lying face up mortally wounded from a gunshot to the upper chest.”

Santini said “the last person seen with the gun was Tarik Brakes,” but he did not identify any of the suspects as the shooter.

A relative of Tarik Brakes’ shrieked when prosecutors said he was the last person seen with the gun.

Prosecutors say CTA and other surveillance cameras show Johnson and the other alleged robbers entering the viaduct just before the murder and leaving it shortly after.

Judge James Brown ordered the Brakes brothers held without bond as their parents watched from the courtroom. Isiah Penn, who is on parole for a 2014 juvenile robbery charge, was held on $2 million bond.

Johnson, 17, had been ordered held without bond on Monday.

Prosecutors claimed Penn made incriminating statements to police that implicating himself and his co-defendants.

William Wolf, public defender representing Penn, questioned the evidence produced during the hearing and noted the state did not release documents related to statements Penn allegedly made to police, a requirement when seeking a no bail statute.

“You didn’t see any witnesses. You didn’t see any videotape. What evidence did you hear? You heard a lawyer talking,” Wolf said. “We asked to see some of it, and they said no. And they would rather have our client have bail then us seeing the evidence. That’s something we have to question.

“They chose that they didn’t want us to see those materials because that might affect their ability to go forward in a hearing. It looks like they are trying to keep their tools that they have at their disposal close to the vest.”

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said the public defender was not given Penn’s statements in order “to move forward” with Tuesday’s bond hearing.

“They were asking for discovery that we were not in the position to give at this point,” Alvarez said. “It will come later. It’s a process of reports.”

Alvarez called Demario’s murder tragic and painful, but said it strengthens her argument that juveniles ages 15 to 17 who are charged in the most serious crimes -- murder, armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon on school grounds -- should be tried as adults.

“This cold blooded and heinous murder of Demario Bailey by four 16 and 17-year-olds screams out for serious laws for juvenile offenders with existing criminal histories, who are out on our streets terrorizing innocent children, and other citizens,” Alvarez said.

She noted if the teens were tried in the juvenile system they would have only received four to five years in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center.

“My view is that is by no means an appropriate measure of justice for a young promising life, a young main raised by a very devoted mother, a grandmother, a twin brother, a Chicago working class family that deserved to be kept safe from this insane street violence,” Alvarez said. “This case is truly tragic and it’s disheartening. It serves as a sobering reminder that we have to do much better.”

Demario Bailey / Submitted photo

Tarik Brakes, 16, is a student at Englewood High School and Deafro Brakes, 17, is a student at McKinley, according to their public defenders. Penn, 17, lives with his mother, sister and brother, his lawyer said.

Demario, an honor roll student at Johnson College Prep, dreamed of attending college and becoming an attorney or a police officer, according to close friend Charles Kirk.

On Tuesday, teachers and classmates at Johnson Prep planned to throw a 16th birthday celebration for the brothers this afternoon at the Englewood school.

Demario and his twin, Demacio, had hoped to celebrate at Dave & Busters, a Near North Side video arcade and restaurant, family members said.

Demacio played in a school basketball game Monday night to honor his brother, who was his biggest fan. Before the game, players observed a moment of silence to honor Demario, who was on the pep squad and banged a drum at games to amp up the crowd.

Demario would regularly accompany his brother to basketball practice, even though he was not on the team. The brothers were walking from a bus stop to one of those practices at Johnson Prep when Demario was killed.

Demacio scored four points Monday night during the 64-41 loss to Leyden High.

Following the game, the twins’ mother, Delores Bailey, made a passionate plea to end senseless violence.

“We need to stick together. Mothers get up and let’s live for our kids,” said Delores Bailey with tears streaming down her cheeks. “We don’t want to let them out because we scared because we know a day like this is coming.”

To avoid Demario’s fate, she called on parents to organize car pools for their kids.

“Let’s get [our kids] to where they need to be,” Delores Bailey said. “If you all don’t do it, I’m going to do it myself. I promise you, if I have to put them in my car … and drop them off and pick them up.”

“I don’t want nobody else — no other mother — to feel this,” she said as she left the gym.

The team had come out of the locker room alongside the boys’ family. With Demacio in the lead, the players lined up single-file and marched to their bus chanting, “We will live, not die.”

UPDATE: Carlos Johnson involved in robbery spree before murder of Demario Bailey, prosecutors said

Michael Lansu — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 14:56:00 -0600

Demario Bailey / Sumbitted photo

BY STEFANO ESPOSITO
Chicago Sun-Times

A 17-year-old boy was ordered held without bond Monday after he was charged with killing a 15-year-old over his jacket in front of his twin brother.

Three other teens were charged with murder Monday evening and are expected to appear in court Tuesday for a bond hearing.

Cook County Criminal Court Judge James Brown ruled that Carlos Johnson, 17, be held without bail in the murder of 15-year-old Demario Bailey in front of his twin brother, Demacio, after a brief hearing at the George Leighton Criminal Courts Building.

Prosecutors said at the bond hearing Monday for Johnson that they do not believe at this time that he pulled the trigger in the shooting.

The other three teens -- Deafro Brakes and Isiah Penn, both 17, and Tarik Brakes, 16, each charged as adults in the murder -- are expected to have bond hearings Tuesday.

As prosecutors outlined the case against Johnson, his mother and grandmother stood in the front row of the gallery but left afterward without talking to reporters.

Prosecutors say Johnson was involved in two armed robberies just minutes before the robbery that led to the murder of Bailey Saturday afternoon. Both of the earlier robberies occurred in a viaduct in at 150 W. 63rd St., Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said in court.

In one of the earlier robberies, Johnson and another alleged thief stole a cell phone from a 17-year-old youth, Santini said. In the other robbery, a group of four to five people stole a cell phone, some cash and some earrings from a 33-year-old victim, Santini said.

After those robberies, Johnson and several others headed east into a viaduct at 20 W. 63rd St., Santini said. Demario and Demacio were also in the viaduct, heading to basketball practice at their school, Johnson College Prep.

“The offenders, while brandishing a loaded handgun, began to rifle through the victim’s pockets as they said, ‘Give it up,'” Santini said.

The Bailey brothers resisted Johnson and the other alleged robbers, and “a brief struggle ensued,” Santini said. “One of the offenders fired the loaded handgun at Demario Bailey, striking him in the chest just above his heart.”

Demacio ran after hearing the gunshot, Santini said.

At one point during Monday’s hearing, Judge Brown asked Santini if Johnson was the actual shooter.

“At this time, no,” Santini said.

And in arguing for bail, Johnson’s attorney, Mike Clancy, said prosecutors have no evidence that Johnson wielded a gun during any of the robberies.

“He was not the shooter in this case,” Clancy said.

Santini listed Johnson’s criminal history, all juvenile matters, including 2014 convictions for criminal trespass, possession of cannabis and theft. He’s also currently on probation for an unlawful use of a weapon conviction stemming from a 2013 charge, prosecutors say.

Prosecutors say CTA and other surveillance cameras show Johnson and the other alleged robbers entering the viaduct just before the murder and leaving it shortly after.

VIDEO: Remembering slain teen Demario Bailey

Michael Lansu — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 10:41:09 -0600

WEEK IN REVIEW: Seven killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:08:38 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Seven people died violent deaths throughout Chicago last week.

Three of the killings happened over the weekend, when at least 29 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when 15-year-old Demario Bailey was shot in the 0-100 block of West 63rd Street about 12:40 p.m. Saturday as he and his twin brother made their way toward Johnson College Prep to play basketball, according to police and the boy’s aunt, Michelle Fitzpatrick.

Police said four people walked up, announced the robbery and one of the robbers shot Demario.

Demario, of the 7500 block of South Wabash Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He would have turned 16 on Tuesday, family said.

“Some guys came upon him and tried to rob him of his jacket,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our nephew wouldn’t give up his coat, and they shot him in chest.”

On Sunday, authorities announced that 17-year-old Carlos Johnson was charged as an adult with first-degree murder, armed robbery with a firearm and attempted armed robbery with a firearm. The boy is expected to appear in court for a bond hearing later Monday.

On Friday, 28-year-old Rolando Leon was inside a vehicle in the 1300 block of North Springfield Avenue in the Humboldt Park community when at least one person walked up and shot him in the head about 7 p.m., authorities said.

Leon, of the 1200 block of North Springfield Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. A child inside the vehicle was not injured, police said.

In the Roseland neighborhood, 27-year-old Tyrece L. Stornes was outside his home in the 10400 block of South State Street when a gunman opened fire from a passing vehicle about 5 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Stornes was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

On Thursday, 51-year-old Timothy W. Quirk was stabbed in the neck during a domestic argument in the 2200 block of West Farwell Avenue in the West Ridge community about 6:15 a.m., authorities said.

Quirk, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide.

On Tuesday, 21-year-old Leonardo Matias was struck in the head during a drive-by shooting in the 1100 block of West Wilson Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood about 10 a.m., authorities said.

Matias, of the 2300 block of North Mango Avenue, was initially taken in critical condition to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 11:01 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

The shooting happened across the street from Truman College and police do not believe Matias was the intended target.

On Monday, police found 19-year-old Guillermo Ocampo shot multiple times on a sidewalk in the 900 block of North Central Park Avenue in the Humboldt Park community about 4:50 p.m., authorities said.

Ocampo, who lived on the block, died less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner's office.

The killing started when 25-year-old Guovanni Johnson was shot during a domestic fight outside his home in the 6100 block of South Wabash Avenue about 11:10 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Johnson was shot in the head and chest and died Tuesday at Stroger Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Eric Hamilton, 46, of the 800 block of West Westwood Drive in Glenwood, was arrested for the killing on Wednesday and later charged with first-degree murder, authorities said. He is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing later Monday.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 417 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 16 people killed by police.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different by following federal guidelines, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

UPDATE: Carlos Johnson charged with murder in Englewood shooting death of Demario Bailey

Michael Lansu — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 16:53:52 -0600

BY MITCH DUDEK AND JON SEIDEL
Chicago Sun-Times

Under a dark viaduct in Englewood, four muggers stood in front of 15-year-old identical twins Demacio and Demario Bailey.

As they patted down Demacio for valuables Saturday afternoon, Demario shouted, “Get off my brother, he doesn’t have anything!”

One of the muggers turned his attention to Demario’s coat: a navy blue Columbia winter jacket.

But Demario refused to give it up. His mother, a single parent who waitresses at a South Side restaurant, recently spent hundreds of dollars on her sons’ coats, said their aunt and godmother, Sharron Lee.

So the mugger shot Demario, killing him, Lee said.

When his body was taken away, Demario’s mother wailed and shouted, “I want my baby back!”

Sunday afternoon, police said they’d caught the gunman who tore the inseparable brothers apart.

Carlos Johnson, 17, of the 6100 block of South King Drive, was charged as an adult with murder, robbery and attempted robbery. Johnson, who was also charged with another robbery that occurred shortly before Demario was killed, is due to appear in court Monday.

When asked about search for the three other muggers, a police spokesman said only that the investigation is ongoing.

The brothers were headed to their school, Johnson College Prep charter school, 6350 S. Stewart Ave., where Demacio had basketball practice Saturday. They were walking the half mile from the bus stop near the school when the muggers confronted the 6 foot tall brothers in the 0-100 block of West 63rd Street.

Demacio Sunday was being consoled by his tight-knit family. His mother routinely shuttled her boys around town to avoid Chicago’s violent streets, but let them take the bus that afternoon because she wasn’t feeling well, relatives said.

“Demacio is heartbroken,” said the boy’s aunt, Michelle Fitzpatrick.

The brothers -- three days shy of their 16th birthday -- planned to have a party at Dave & Busters on the Near North Side. Demario’s death also cast a pall over Christmas, the family said. The boys had yet to decorate the tree at their home in Chatham.

The pair were so close that Demario would often accompany his brother to basketball practice, even though Demario wasn’t on the team.

“He was deeply committed to his brother,” said Keticia Guter, a teacher at Johnson Prep. “They did everything together.”

Demario may not have excelled in sports like his bother, but, as part of the Puma Power Prep Squad at Johnson College Prep, he showed up at games to bang on a drum and amp up the crowd.

Classmates and teachers spoke of their bond: They were “Joined at the hip,” or “A package deal,” “Like shadows of each other.”

Demario dreamed of going to college, starting a career as a police officer or an attorney and moving his mother and brother away from Chicago’s violent streets, according to Demario’s classmate and close friend, Charles Kirk.

As a testament to what a beloved student he was, Chicago Public School administrators on Sunday took the rare step of allowing reporters into the school gymnasium, where teachers and classmates alike praised the honor roll student for his work ethic and bottomless good spirit.

“He was wonderful, absolutely wonderful, said teacher Rachel Terry. “He always wanted to go to office hours to get his GPA up… And he would always take off his glasses when he wanted to try to sleep,” she said with a laugh.

Demario’s friends said he would tease and prod them until they smiled.

“Every time I saw him he’d say, ‘What’s up, Michael Jordan?'” Shamay Miller recalled. “And I said, ‘Why do you call me that?,’ and he said, ‘Because your forehead is always shiny.'”

Demario Bailey / Sumbitted photo

As a freshman, Demario occasionally took off his glasses and posed as his brother. The gag didn’t work this year because Demario sported a fade hair cut and his brother had an afro, friends said.

“He was like one of them zesty people, he was always putting smiles on peoples’ faces,” said Kirk, who added that Demario wanted to attend the University of Illinois.

“We can honestly say he was a good kid who did not deserve this,” Johnson Principal Dr. Garland Thomas-McDavid told her students Sunday.

Earlier, in an email, Thomas-McDavid said: “I know I speak for every educator who continuously deals with this type of tragedy in saying we are sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Thomas-McDavid added, “I speak for every mother who lives on the South Side of this city in saying we don’t mind if it takes [martial law] to get this in order.”

Jakia Powell, a sophomore at Johnson, said Demario’s death made her realize the pointlessness of petty arguments. On Sunday, she went around making peace with anyone she may have offended.

“Because you can be here one day and gone the next,” Powell said. “And I never even knew that Thursday was going to be my last time seeing him.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the family to help cover the cost of the funeral can do so by going to this link set up by administrators at Johnson College Prep.

Demario Bailey, 15, killed during Englewood robbery

Michael Lansu — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 19:17:12 -0600

Demario Bailey / Sumbitted photo

BY SUN-TIMES STAFF

A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot during a robbery attempt Saturday afternoon in the Englewood neighborhood.

Demario Bailey was gunned down about 12:40 p.m. Saturday as he and his twin brother made their way toward Johnson College Prep, 6350 South Stewart Ave., to play basketball, according to police and the boy’s aunt, Michelle Fitzpatrick.

“Some guys came upon him and tried to rob him of his jacket,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our nephew wouldn’t give up his coat, and they shot him in chest.”

Bailey was on a sidewalk in the 0-100 block of West 63rd Street when four people walked up and announced the robbery, according to police.

A gunman among the four then shot Demario, police said.

Demario, of the 7500 block of South Wabash Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. He would have turned 16 on Tuesday, family said.

Later, when his body was taken away, his mother wailed and shouted, “I want my baby back!”

Demario was a sophomore at Johnson College Prep charter school, 6350 S. Stewart Ave.

Though Demario wasn’t on the school basketball team like this brother, he “was basically a part of the team, was always there supporting us,” said Ceddrick Hunter, the school’s basketball coach. “He was the unathletic one. They were twins, always together. He was a good kid, all-around good kid, always respectful.

“There was not an ounce of gang stuff with either one of them,” Hunter said. “He just wanted to be there for his brother, wanted to walk with him to practice to keep him safe.”

Word of the shooting quickly reached the school. Another boy ran the whole way there with the heartbreaking news.

Demario got good grades and didn’t get into trouble, according to Robin Callahan, an assistant junior varsity basketball coach, who said he and his twin are known around school as the “Bailey boys,” hard to tell apart because they’re identical.

“I know I speak for every educator who continuously deals with this type of tragedy in saying we are sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Johnson College Prep Principal Dr. Garland Thomas-McDavid said in an email.

“I speak for every mother who lives on the South Side of this city in saying we don’t mind if it takes [martial law] to get this in order,” Thomas-McDavid said.

Their mother, very protective of her sons, usually drove them most places, according to their aunt. But the boys were getting older and wanted more independence, Fitzpatrick said. On Saturday, she finally let them take the bus to practice.

“She let them go and now …,” Fitzpatrick said, her words trailing off, tears rolling down her cheeks.

School officials said a fund was being set up to help Bailey’s family pay for burial services, and that counseling would be provided for students and staff this week.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest, community activist Andrew Holmes said. Anyone with information was asked to call 1-800-UTELLUS.

“We do so much to keep them out of trouble,” Callahan said. “But this not only tears our school apart, it tears our community apart.”

Officials initially said at least one person was taken into custody after the shooting, but those people had been released without charges as of Sunday morning.