An Englewood man is charged with fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy while free on a recognizance bond and electronic monitoring as he awaited trial for allegedly possessing a stolen handgun.
And police say he was carrying another handgun when they arrested him last week.
It’s the latest in a string of violent crimes identified by CWBChicago that were allegedly committed by people who were on affordable bail while awaiting trial for gun crimes and other serious felonies.
“It’s not by magic that we haven’t had any horrible incidents occur using this new [bail] system.”
— Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Nov. 4, 2019
Cops staked out 18-year-old Damian “Day Day” Coleman’s home and arrested him when he stepped outside around 10 a.m. on Feb. 12. Coleman was carrying a loaded 40-caliber handgun equipped with a laser sight when officers arrested him, according to a CPD report.
Prosecutors said in court papers he fatally shot 15-year-old Marlin Gaines on the 5600 block of South Marshfield around 4:15 p.m. on Feb. 2. They charged Coleman with first degree murder and felony unlawful use of a weapon. Judge David Navarro ordered him held without bail.
Last July, prosecutors charged Coleman with felony unlawful use of a weapon after police allegedly found a loaded handgun near his seat during a traffic stop on the 1900 block of West 57th Street. The gun, which had an extended ammunition magazine, had been reported stolen in Lafayette, Indiana, police said.
Judge John Lyke released Coleman on a recognizance bond with electronic monitoring the next day, according to court records.
In October, police executed a search warrant at Coleman’s home and allegedly found suspected narcotics packaging, a digital scale, and a 9-millimeter bullet.
Prosecutors charged him with possessing ammunition without a valid Firearm Owner’s ID card and Judge Susana Ortiz ordered him held without bail for violating the terms of his July bail bond.
But, the ammunition charge was dropped on Nov. 17 and Coleman went free again.