CHICAGO — A 17-year-old was charged Thursday with first-degree murder after the attempted armed robbery of an off-duty officer ended with the fatal shooting of his 16-year-old accomplice.
Devante Graham was with Deonta Mackey, 16, and a third youth around 9:55 p.m. Monday when they approached an off-duty Cook County Sheriff's sergeant as he was pumping gas in the 700 block of East 103rd Street in Pullman, prosecutors said.
Mackey, who was armed with a 9mm handgun, told the officer to empty his pockets or he would shoot him, prosecutors said. The sergeant handed him a pack of gum, and the third robber went into his car and began going through the glove compartment, prosecutors said.
When Mackey demanded the officer's wallet and car keys, the officer pulled his gun and shot Mackey in the head, authorities said. Graham and the other youth then ran off, prosecutors said.
Graham, of the 10300 block of South Corliss Avenue, was identified as one of the robbers thanks to video footage of the crime caught on the gas station's surveillance camera, prosecutors said.
In addition, police were tipped off to the third man's Facebook page, which showed him and Graham holding guns, including one that looked like the gun used in the robbery, prosecutors said.
After the video was shown on TV, Graham turned himself in to police. The sergeant later identified him in a lineup, prosecutors said.
In addition to murder, Graham also was charged with armed robbery with a firearm, prosecutors said. He's previously been charged as a juvenile with aggravated battery and criminal damage, receiving probation both times.
He was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail Thursday.
The third robber is still being sought.
In Illinois, a person who commits a felony can be charged with murder if someone dies during the course of the crime.
