Last year on the afternoon of Dec. 10, two men were shot in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. The two men appeared to be doing nothing more than standing on the street when the shots rang out. Recently, a 17-year-old boy was charged with murder in the first degree and aggravated battery in connection with the incident.
One of the men, a 21-year-old, was taken to a Chicago hospital to be treated for his injuries. Despite receiving medical attention, the man succumbed to his injuries. The other man, a 22-year-old, was taken to the same hospital. He was in serious condition and survived.
According to reports, the teen arrested for the crime simply fired a weapon without any apparent provocation. Reports did not reveal what information led police to suspect the teen taken into custody. Since he is a juvenile, the court needs to be determined whether he will face the charges as a juvenile or an adult.
Just because the teen was charged with shooting these two men does not mean he is guilty. Every person accused of a crime is entitled to be seen as innocent until the prosecution proves his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Further, the accused person has the right to review all of the evidence prosecutors intend to present to the court in support of the charges and to confront any witnesses.
As would be the case for anyone charged with murder and aggravated battery, his criminal defense team will have the right to review the evidence, witness statements and other elements of the investigation to ensure his rights were protected throughout the investigation and his arrest. Once that process is complete, all of the options available will be explored. Then a determination can be made as to the achieving the best possible outcome for the teen.
Source: CBS Chicago, Teen Charged With Murder In December Slaying, No author, Feb. 14, 2014