2 teens charged with first-degree murder in deadly shooting near North Side Chicago school
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two teenage boys were charged in connection to a deadly shooting near Senn High School in Edgewater last month.
The teens, 17-year-old Kashawn Prude and a 14-year-old boy, were charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Police said Prude is charged as an adult.
The 14-year-old received an additional charge of aggravated battery with discharge of a firearm.
The two boys were said to be students from Uplift Community High School, at 900 W. Wilson Ave. in Uptown.
Both were charged in the shooting that happened in broad daylight on Jan. 31, killing 16-year-old Daveon Gibson and wounding two other Senn students – boys ages 15 and 16.
The shooting happened on Thorndale Avenue between Lakewood and Magnolia Avenues, about a block and a half east of the school. Chicago police say a car pulled up, and several people with guns got out and started shooting.
Prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's office said there had been some sort of altercation between the defendants and the victims before the shooting.
"I find in my heart to forgive the person that took my grandson away," Daveon's grandmother, Sherry Wesley, said at a vigil recently. "I'm broken. My family is broken. All I want is justice."
Police were able to identify the vehicle used in the shooting, a stolen gray Honda with Florida registration, which was later located in the 4100 block of North Kenmore Avenue in Buena Park.
Prosecutors believe Purdue drove the stolen Honda, while the 14-year-old sat in the back.
The three students from Senn were walking along Thorndale Avenue when Purdue is accused of using the car to cut them off near an alley.
The 14-year-old suspect got out of the car, walked toward the victims, and fired into the crowd, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said witnesses saw everything unfold.
"An Amazon driver in the area observed the Honda pull into the alley, heard gunshots, and observed a young Black male holding a firearm shoot into a crowd of people, return to the Honda in the alley - and the Honda fled the scene," McCord said.
Prosecutors said the defendants then walked back to the car, and Purdue drove off and ditched it. Prude and the 14-year-old then both changed their clothes and went back to school, prosecutors said.
Officers found 15 shell casings from the shooting.
Meanwhile, video footage obtained by police showed the two suspects parking and leaving the car. Additional information from the community led to the identification of the teens who, on Feb. 20, were placed into custody in the 4600 block of North Sheridan Road and the 900 block of West Wilson Avenue where Uplift is located, respectively.
Purdue's attorney argued Purdue admitted he was in the car, but said he didn't know the 14-year-old had a gun.
"The defendant made post Miranda statement, admitting to driving the stolen Honda before and after the shooting - and identified the juvenile co-defendant as the shooter and his only passenger," said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Anne McCord.
Prosecutors said since 2021, Purdue has been arrested eight times – for crimes including battery, theft, and trespassing.
The judge at the detention hearing said he believes Purdue is a threat to the community, and doesn't believe electronic monitoring is sufficient based on his criminal background.
The recent string of shootings near high schools has forced the Chicago Police Department to beef up patrols during dismissal and arrival.
