Demetrius Hardy, a 15-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on April 8, 2020, in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred around 3:35 p.m. near South Kilbourn Avenue. Demetrius was struck in the abdomen and leg by gunfire and was subsequently transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Demetrius Hardy's death led to the arrest of Dequawn Little, a 21-year-old African American male,
who was charged with first-degree murder. According to Cook County prosecutors, Little was on house arrest for a previous gun offense at the time of the shooting. He allegedly shot Demetrius from across the street while standing in his front yard, close enough to his electronic monitoring device to avoid triggering a violation. Witnesses reported seeing Little fire seven shots at Demetrius, who was using his phone on his front porch. Little then fled back into his home through a gangway.
Police recovered seven .40 caliber shell casings from the scene and a .40 caliber Glock from Little's backyard. Although no fingerprints were found on the weapon, ballistics confirmed that the Glock fired the rounds that killed Demetrius. Witnesses identified Little as the shooter both at the scene and in a subsequent photo lineup. Little was arrested shortly after the incident and has been held without bail since his arrest. He is due back in court later in April 2020.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and it is not known if there was any prior relationship between Demetrius and Little. The case has drawn significant attention due to the circumstances surrounding Little's house arrest and the tragic loss of a young life. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing to gather evidence and testimonies to ensure justice for Demetrius Hardy and his family.
