Bail was denied Sunday afternoon for two teenagers charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an Illinois congressman’s grandson following an argument over a pair of basketball shoes.
The 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl appeared before Cook County Judge James Brown wearing juvenile detention center sweatshirts, their heads bowed, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Brown called the killing of U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ grandson a “total callous disregard for human life.”
Police said the two were arrested after they were identified as suspects in Friday’s shooting death of 15-year-old Javon Wilson. The shooting stemmed from a dispute over basketball shoes, police said, adding that Wilson knew his attackers and they may have been friends at some point.
Chicago has seen a dramatic rise in the number of shootings and homicides, with August being the deadliest month in the city in two decades. There have been 673 homicides so far this year, including the fatal shootings of the cousin of Chicago Bulls basketball star Dwyane Wade, a Chicago police officer’s son and the son of a famed percussionist.
Davis said he was told that a boy traded slacks for shoes with Wilson’s 14-year-old brother, but thought better of the trade and went to Wilson’s house with a 17-year-old girl. He said the pair forced their way in the house and argued with Wilson before the boy shot Wilson in the head.
Davis, who was re-elected this month to his 11th term in the 7th Congressional District and is a former Chicago alderman, told The Associated Press on Sunday that the charges brought him continued remorse at the loss of his grandson.
“I feel a great deal of empathy, especially for the families of the two individuals who are involved,” Davis said. “I’m sure that’s not the way they were hoping to go into their Thanksgiving week.”
Davis said it’s unfortunate the teens “would have access to a gun that could lead to that kind of mayhem” and that he will “continue to work with those who are trying to get guns out of circulation.” He also says more funding is needed for education and after-school programs.
He described his grandson as “a pretty regular kid” who loved playing basketball and knew all the pros and their stats, who also loved music and whose grades were improving after a rough patch.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
SHE LOST DUE TO RELYING ON HER SEXUAL COMPLAINT ABOUT USING A WORD TO EXPLAIN HER CONCERN OVER A WOMAN’S PU**Y BEING MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE RUINING THE LIVES OF MANY CITIZENS;ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE VETERANS WHO HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY AND IT’S CONSTITUTION AGAINST PEOPLE LIKE [ HER ], RIGHT??? AND THAT’S THE [ TRUTH ]!!! SO HELP ME GOD???
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So a child shoots another child over a pair of basketball shoes, how sad.
Where is BLM???? Oh a shooting at one of the Kingdoms? Now things will be changing???????? NOT ONE COULD BE PROTECTED BY A NAME, THUGS AND GANGS DO NOT CARE. NOW GRAND PA WILL WORK HARD FOR CHANG…….SHOULD OF DONE THIS YEARS AND YEARS AGO, NOW YOU HAVE A LOVE ONE LOST AS MANY OF HAVE PUT SOME OF OUR CHILDREN TO REST MUCH TO SOON. I LOST MY SON WHEN HE WAS 8 WHILE ON VACATION GOING TO DISNEYLAND IN L.A……. I always knew that when lost a child from the Ivory Tower kingdom then they will start to work on laws……. I have live 39 years and it did finally happen, So sad and what a heart ache for the mother and father. I feel for them.
Sorry for the loss of your grandson. I know the pain of losing a child. Please remember that these kids parents also should be held responsible for their kids actions. Where did they get the gun? Where were their parents? How can their parents not know that their child has a gun, or was it their parents gun? Everyone who owns guns are not irresponsible and should not be judged as such. I have guns and my kids were brought up with guns and own their own. They were taught to be responsible. I am proud of my kids. Don’t be down on guns. There are laws for buying guns and to buy guns for resale to those who can’t buy them legally is also against the law. Responsible gun owners should not be judged or denied the ownership of guns.
My prayers are with you and your family and your loss.
Why all the outcry over a Congressman’s grandson getting killed. Nobody seems to give a damn about all the “common” folks getting killed on a daily basis in Chicago… around 650 this year. Rest in Peace young man, you didn’t deserve to die either, but what is anyone doing to reduce these senseless murders? The mayor seems more concerned about being a “sanctuary city”, yet does nothing to reduce these senseless killings and victims as well.
I don’t know how much more he can do to get control of guns in Chicago, they have one of the strictest gun controls in the country. It seems to me that maybe this was not a “Legally Owned” gun and wouldn’t have made any difference to the controls. Criminals will find guns no matter how much you try to take them away or control them.
You don’t understand. Rahm “The Godfather” UNmanual (His actual name means “God with us” which could hardly be more INappropriate for this POS) and those whose orders he takes have EXACTLY the “control of guns” they want!!!!
Their “inability” to reduce the slaughter with existing methods will be their “justification” for imposing ever more stringent restrictions, until ALL personal weapons will be forbidden to the general population.
PERIOD!!!!
You,re insane, I own weapons that killary wanted to take away, not going to happen.
Stop blaming guns!! Blame the people using them and the put them in prison for more than a couple of years and FAR AWAY from their families. This is why Chicago has a murder problem, almost total lack of meaningful punishment!
TRIBAL MENTALITY. It’s in their D.N.A.
And where is BLM on the most recent black on black shooting????
Yes, leave us legal gun owners alone, figure out a way to get the criminals to abide by the law, if you take up the guns, then only the criminals will have them, not to mention ISIS or some other nation would come in and take us without firing a shot, if we can’t defend ourselves, there is no end to what will happen!!!
So no bail for a congressmans grandkid being killed while the thousands of other homicide and violent crime perpetrators are released in hours.
Make sure justice is done! Charge them as adults and then sentence them like it. They are old enough to kill then they are old enough to stand trial like the adults they try to be!! As for where they got the firearm that is another matter If they stole it charge them like the felons they are if they got it from mom and dad with their knowledge charge them with accessories’ before the fact of murder!
What is trading slacks for shoes ?? What does that mean??
I blame the parents and not the guns. Now a days parents want to give their children everything they want so they grow up with this idea that they have to have everything. They see another kid with a 180 dollars pair of sneakers and they know they cant afford them so they will steal lie cheat and even kill to get them because that is what their parents tough them. So in this case ill blame the parents too but the media and some politicians use this tragedy in order to enforce gun control
Chicago has the strictest gun laws in the nation and has the highest crime rate involving guns. What good is the restrictions doing.
Congressman Davis has suffered a loss that no man nor woman should, the murder of a young family member through violence. Yet his reply offends because he falls on he hackneyed mantra of the democrats who blame the gun rather than the culture of violence which surrounds these families living in these conditions, the vast majority who fear exactly what occurred here.
Yet, IF Chicago’s gun laws were the answer, as his comment implies, these murders would have long ago come under control. These politicians pander to the community in slogans and garbage “caring and concerned” phrases and yet, for fear of having to come to terms with reality, permit the slaughter to continue–Congressman, the laws have been in the books for a long time–FELONS are NOT permitted guns–You do not need to pretend–You have the laws, you simply do not wish to ENFORCE them–Now your grandson senselessly was murdered–over some goddamned shoes, likely “cool” NBA gear targeting the community–Let’s be honest! (A) Your sub-culture which you fail to address ENCOURAGES violence, “street creds” drugs, moronic Eubonics and rap lyrics which espouse abuse of women and violence against authority–(B) They threaten anyone, young man or woman, who seeks to educate themselves, follow rules, and try to improve their lives (“that not be cool..”)(C) You KNOW who the offenders are, “they be gangstas, heah?” and wannabees, so (D) Target these muthaf**kas with armed sweeps and confiscate the drugs, guns and RICO their bling and prosecute them, get them off the street and (E) Stand behind your police and not your BLM’s who are purposefully blind to this crap!
Sorry, Congressman, but you and many of your ilk are as responsible for this as the dumb psychopaths who have no moral consciousness whatsoever–do YOUR job and take the first step to make YOUR community safer!
This is what happens when liberalism is allowed to go unchecked, we need to address why crime rates are so high in liberal run cities. Why is it that the state wants to be the dad in these poor communities and why the majority of these mothers care so little for their children? Liberalism has destroyed the fabric of this once great nation.
Our children, many of them, “I want Now.” They have No true values from Mom & Dad. Turn em loose on Society.
They think we are dumb, they have a right to entitlement. Too Much Free time to get into trouble.
If Mom & Dad really loved their kids, they would know what they are up too and once in awhile check up to see. Money does not grow on a tree. You need to
apply yourself & work. Nothing for nothing. President Jack Kennedy had it right: “Ask what can I do for my Country, not what can my Country do for me. ”
No respect anymore. Feeling less for others, just attitude me, me & me again. SICK!
Lacking kindness toward one another.
What do you think the World thinks of us, when they see what goes on here?
We are supposed to be leaders not thugs!
Someone they can look up to.
We need stricter schools, like Military discipline, & consequences.
We do not need Marshall law. Grow up!
ALL LIVES MATTER ! UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL. LEARN WE ARE ALL CHILDREN TO HELP ONE ANOTHER TO MAKE A BETTER
WORLD. BUT FIRST WE NEED TO CLEAN UP OUR BACK YARDS. AS CIVILIZED PEOPLE, GETTING RESPECT & EDUCATED OUR YOUNG. RIGHT NOW WE ARE OUT OF CONTROL.
We all must find the right path.
They should be subject to the laws same as every other criminal in Chicago.let them out on bail. Just because grandpa is an exconngressman is no reason to hold them He had a hand in making this city what it has become
Sorry for your lost