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Electronic Monitoring Bracelet Puts Teen at Scene of 7-Year-Old's Shooting

By  Erin Meyer and Emily Morris | August 20, 2013 7:12am | Updated on August 20, 2013 3:32pm

Mom of 15-Year-Old Charged in Shooting Speaks Out
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DNAinfo/Erin Meyer

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A 15-year-old boy wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet fired shots at someone taunting him in a passing car but missed, hitting a 7-year-old boy standing on his front porch, prosecutors said.

Two witnesses identified LaVante Jackson as the boy who got off his bike Sunday night and opened fire at a car but instead hit Tavion Jackson, no relation, prosecutors said.

What's more, the Global Positioning System embedded in the teen's electronic monitoring bracelet put him at the scene of the crime — the 4200 block of West Fifth Avenue, prosecutors said.

LaVante Jackson, who was wearing the electronic monitor for a drug conviction, was charged as an adult with aggravated battery with a firearm. 

 Tavion Jackson, 7, was shot while walking a bike near his West Garfield Park home Sunday night.
Tavion Jackson, 7, was shot while walking a bike near his West Garfield Park home Sunday night.
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DNAinfo/Josh McGhee

A judge set his bail at $900,000 on Tuesday.

Tavion Jackson had just put his bike into his home and had walked onto his front porch when the shooting erupted.

An 11-year-old witness to the shooting told police he saw a car pull up to LaVante Jackson, who was riding his bike near a school across the street, prosecutors said.

Someone hanging out of the car yelled, "Whatcha gonna do about it now?" to LaVante Jackson, who then got off his bike and opened fire, prosecutors said.

Tavion was hit by one of the bullets in the side and initially taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious-to-critical condition, authorities said. He was released early Monday.

The alleged shooter's mother told reporters Tuesday her son did not know Tavion, and that she did not know whether to believe her son — who claims he's innocent — or police.

When asked what her son told her, Erika Jackson said, "He said he didn't do it."

"My baby's not bad," his mother said. "We lay in bed together. Watch movies together. We eat popcorn together."

She said one of LaVante's friends, someone she refered to as Antonio, was recently killed by gunfire.

According to court records, LaVante Jackson has a tattoo near his right eye that reads "Rip," and a tatoo near his left eye that says "Tonio." He is also an alleged member of the New Breeds street gang.

Neighbor Jeanette Pruitt, who said she was "at a loss for words" after Tavion was shot, described the victim as a sweet boy who everyone called "little cutie."

Tavion's mother has told reporters he's recovering, but is traumatized and afraid to go outside.