Latest News USA Today: Heartbreak As 14-Year-Old Chicago Boy Shot Dead And Cousins Charged With His Murder
A 14-year-old boy identified as Jaquan Swopes, was shot and killed after a bullet hit him in the head. His cousins were charged with his murder, even though none of them pulled the trigger. This is as a result of a 200-year-old law which has left the Chicago family with heartbreak.
“This just caused a lifetime of pain,” said Chloe Pollion of the situation her son, Kendrix Cooper is now in. “He’s just constantly reliving that night.”
Trouble started early Tuesday when Kendrix and five other teens all hopped in a stolen Lexus sport-utility vehicle and drove up to Lake County. The police say they were on the property of a 75-year-old man, and the homeowner feared for his life as some of the teens approached him. The older man opened fire, shooting Cooper’s cousin, Jaquan Swopes, in the head. He died while the other five teens four of whom are minors, were arrested for his death. They face a first-degree murder charge and being tried as adults due to Illinois’ felony murder law.
“They didn’t mean for none of this to happen,” said Erica Annon, mother of three of the accused – Diamond Davis, 18; and twins Steven and Stacy Davis, 17. It is a situation that could put the teens in prison for 20 to 60 years.
Meanwhile, Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim, is standing by his decision to charge the teens with first-degree murder insisting they are ultimately responsible for Swopes’ death.
Click Amebo Book for more breaking news headlines today USA.
