Chicago police arrested the gunman who shot and killed 16-year-old Seandell Holliday near The Bean in Millennium Park after he dropped his pistol in front of cops while running from the scene, prosecutors said Monday.
Marion Richardson, 17, is charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon. Judge Mary Marubio said he must post $250,000 in cash to get out of jail on electronic monitoring.
Richardson and his girlfriend reportedly went to Millennium Park on Saturday evening to participate in a social media “trend,” a slang word for large, informal gatherings that are organized online.
While they were there, Richardson and his girlfriend crossed paths with someone that they had an altercation with during a previous “trend.” A group of people began following the couple and pointing at Richardson while talking about him, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said.
Richardson’s girlfriend pulled him away from the group and, moments later, Seandell Holliday jumped on his back from behind, according to Murphy. Holliday punched Richardson in the head as did another male, Murphy said. The encounter was recorded by witnesses.
Richardson took out a gun and shot Holliday one time in the chest. He then ran from the scene, wearing a bright yellow sweatshirt. Holliday was not armed, Murphy said. City surveillance footage secured by Chicago Contrarian shows the gunman running within inches of a Chicago police sergeant who crouched down behind a planter to shield herself from gunfire.
Seconds later, officers who heard the gunshot saw Richardson drop a handgun as he ran from the scene, Murphy said. Richards allegedly stopped, picked the gun up, put it in his waistband, and continued running.
Cops arrested him nearby and recovered the handgun from his waistband, Murphy said. The weapon had an extended ammunition magazine and a laser sight attached.
Richardson apparently blamed arresting officers for not doing more to protect him from the crowd before the shooting.
“100 n-ggers walking towards me. What was I supposed to do?” Richardson allegedly said. “You all just sitting there, bro.”
An assistant public defender said Richardson is a high school junior who lives with his 21-year-old brother. His mother lives out of town and his father is dead, the attorney said. He has never been arrested before.
After hearing the state’s allegations, Judge Marubio pointed to a heavy police presence in the area and said Richardson “was just yards away” from help if he needed it. She said he knew the “trend” would be crowded because he had attended them before, yet he brought a gun with him.
She also noted that the state did not ask her to hold Richardson without bail. State law prohibited her from setting no-bail in the case without a petition from prosecutors.
Richardson’s attorney argued that the case should remain in juvenile court because the primary charge, second-degree murder, does not automatically transfer to adult court under state law.
Marubio called the argument “compelling” and said the parties may litigate it in the future. But because Richardson is also charged with aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm, which does transfer to adult court, Marubio heard the case.
Murphy told Marubio the state settled on a second-degree murder charge because Richardson had “unreasonable belief of self defense.”
Richardson is due in court again on June 3.
