CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Two teenagers have been charged in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Senn High School student in the city's Edgewater neighborhood, the Chicago Police Department announced on Wednesday.
Officials said the two suspects were a 14-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy — and the latter will be tried as an adult. According to police, the pair got into an altercation with 16-year-old Daveon Gibson and two other teens prior to the shooting, which took place on Jan. 31.
The two other teens, ages 15 and 16, were also shot but survived.
Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Antionette Ursitti said Area Three detectives were able to use surveillance footage, license plate readers and input from the community to track down a stolen SUV that is believed to have been used as the getaway vehicle.
Detectives found the SUV on Feb. 2, and further surveillance footage showed the two suspects exiting the vehicle, Ursitti said.
Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling credited the hard work of the officers and detectives involved, as well as input from the community.
"Violent criminals have to be held accountable," he said. "That's from robberies, to shootings to homicides. If we're not holding them accountable, they become more brazen. They continue to act in this manner."
Both individuals face felony counts of first degree murder and first-degree attempted murder charges. The 14-year-old also faces two felony counts of aggravated battery and discharge of a firearm.
In response to a question from a reporter, Snelling lamented what he described as the "desensitization" to the level of violence in Chicago.
"The desensitization to this type of violence has led us to not pay that much attention to it, and what we're not paying attention to are the victims and the family of these victims," he said. "If we don't have the focus there, then we're not paying attention to the people who are truly affected by these violent crimes."
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