A 13-year-old boy died from a gunshot wound to the head sustained during an attempted car theft with a 17-year-old acquaintance, according to police.
Deantwan McKeever was found in Chicago's South Side on May 21 and was hospitalized in critical condition. He died from his injuries a week later, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed.
Two months after the incident, the 17-year-old suspect, identified by CWB Chicago as Javar Woods, was arrested on July 16. Prosecutors stated in a court hearing on July 18 that Woods had been released from juvenile detention approximately one hour before he met McKeever on the day of the shooting.
McKeever, Woods, and two other youths had planned to steal a car parked on South Coles Avenue, according to prosecutors. McKeever was reportedly carrying the firearm in his backpack and handed it to Woods, while the other two acted as lookouts.
One of the lookouts told investigators that Woods was standing in a passageway when McKeever ran toward him. The lookout then heard two gunshots and saw McKeever fall. Prosecutors allege that Woods fled the scene with the gun, and he and the other youths went to his home to change clothes. The lookouts reported that Woods threatened them and their families if they informed the police. However, the youths later returned to the scene and spoke with detectives.
A judge described Woods as a "violent and dangerous person" and ordered him held in jail pending trial. The reason for Woods' previous placement in juvenile detention remains unclear.