COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A South Side man was held without bail Tuesday in the murder of 16-year-old Corey Strother who died some eight months after he was shot.
Stother was shot in his neck in the 5900 block of South Princeton Avenue at about 9:45 p.m. on Dec. 22, Assistant State's Attorney Holly Grosshans said during a bond hearing Tuesday.
The teen, then 15, was rushed in critical condition to a local hospital, where he was sustained by life support, prosecutors said. He died of the injury on Aug. 26.
RELATED: After Grueling Recovery, Corey Strother, 16, Dies From Gunshot Wound
Swonn Herron, 23, who was previously charged with attempted first-degree murder in the case, now faces charges of first-degree murder.
Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Tuesday denied Herron bail, calling him "dangerous."
According to prosecutors, Corey had been standing outside his home with several friends and relatives when a black SUV pulled up alongside the group. Herron stepped out of the vehicle, pulled a gun, pointed it at Corey and fired a single shot — striking the teen in his neck, Grosshans said.
Prosecutors in court Tuesday identified Herron as a member of the Black P Stone gang.
Police said Corey did not appear to have gang ties, and a motive for the shooting was not immediately clear. Two witnesses were later able to identify Herron as the shooter, Grosshans said.
Corey's sister, Brianna Young, told DNAinfo in August that Corey fought for his life after the shooting and got well enough to leave the hospital for an in-patient therapy center, where he was making progress until a series of setbacks.
Young, 23, said Corey developed a number of new ailments that significantly reduced his quality of life: "He started having medical conditions. ... We didn't want him to live like that no more."
Young said the family did not know the man who fatally shot Corey, and they were not sure why he was shot. Young called the shooting shocking, noting that Corey stayed to himself and made an effort not to go out much in fear of the city's rampant violence.
Corey was described as a respectful kid who kept to himself and liked music. His father is a well-known DJ in the neighborhood, neighbors said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
