#32: Teen with pending felony gun case shot man dead over shoulder bump, prosecutors say

Prosecutors on Tuesday charged a 17-year-old with shooting a man to death after the victim bumped into his friend on a sidewalk. The teen, Jaebrel Miles, had a felony gun case pending in juvenile court at the time of the alleged murder, making him the 32nd person accused of killing, trying to kill, or shooting someone in Chicago this year while awaiting trial for another felony.

“This encounter that starts out as a bumping shoulders turns into the victim being shot at that gas station multiple times,” Judge David Navarro summarized before ordering Miles held without bail Tuesday afternoon.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Deboni said Miles and a witness walked to a gas station on the 8300 block of South Stony Island to pick up some snacks around 11:30 a.m. on May 28. As they walked back to the house where they had been hanging out, 26-year-old Jeffrey King bumped into the witness on a sidewalk near the gas station, Deboni said.

Miles, King, and the witness allegedly exchanged words then went their separate ways. King went into the gas station. Miles and the witness ran back to the house, where a third person joined them, Deboni said.

The witness went to his room, but he soon heard a door slam and allegedly saw the third person and Miles running down the street. He ran after them. As he neared the gas station, he heard several gunshots and ran back home, Deboni said.

Surveillance video showed Miles and the third person went inside the gas station to confront King, Deboni said. The third person punched King in the face. Then, Miles took out a gun and began firing over the third person’s shoulder toward King, Deboni said. The third person ducked, took out his own gun, and also shot at King, according to Deboni.

King suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died.

The witness identified Miles for police and the second gunman remains at large, Deboni said.

Police caught up with Miles this week as he rode in the back seat of a Lyft, according to Deboni. The cops who arrested him allegedly found a loaded handgun with a defaced serial number under the seat in front of him. Police also found baggies containing heroin, crack, and ecstasy in his bag, Deboni said. The gun police allegedly found is the same caliber as one of the weapons used to shoot King.

Miles’ defense attorney said he is a high school junior, and he competes on the swim team.

He is charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, and two felony narcotics charges.

Editor’s note: This report continues our coverage of individuals who have been charged with murder, attempted murder, or trying to kill a person while on bond for a pending felony case. CWBChicago began our series of reports in November 2019 after Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans publicly stated “we haven’t had any horrible incidents occur” under the court’s bond reform initiative. You can support CWBChicago’s work by becoming a subscriber today.

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