Ike King, an 18-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on September 13, 2014, in Calumet City, Illinois. The incident occurred at the River Oaks Mall, where King was followed by a group of six individuals after being spotted at a McDonald's restaurant with a roll of $300 in cash. The group, consisting of four teens and two others, intended to rob King. Upon arriving at the mall, King and a friend were attacked by three members of the group. Despite their efforts to fend off the attackers, two more teens joined the assault. King and his friend attempted to escape towards an east entrance of the mall, but the suspects pursued them. As King approached a closed entrance for a Sears store, he was shot in the back by the suspects. The group then fled the scene in a Jeep, which was later identified through surveillance footage.
Following the incident, Calumet City police, along with the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, were able to identify and arrest five of the six suspects involved in the shooting. Dana Hayes, an 18-year-old male from Sauk Village, was charged with murder and attempted robbery. Martreli Smith, also 18, faced charges of obstruction of justice and aiding a fugitive. Two 17-year-olds, including the suspected shooter, were charged with first-degree murder and attempted robbery, though their names were not released due to their age. The sixth suspect remained at large at the time of the investigation.
King was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. An autopsy confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to the back, and his death was ruled a homicide. The case garnered significant attention, highlighting the tragic consequences of youth violence and the impact it has on communities. The legal proceedings against the suspects underscored the severity of their actions and the justice system's response to such heinous crimes.
