Demarcus Brandon, a 25-year-old African American male, died on December 10, 2013, in Chicago, Illinois. His death occurred during an attempted robbery at a cell phone store located in the 1700 block of East 87th Street. Brandon, who was armed with a handgun, tried to rob the store around 6:30 p.m. The store owner, also armed, shot and killed Brandon in self-defense.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed that Brandon died of multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Brandon had a criminal history, including a conviction for armed robbery, armed violence, and unlawful use of a weapon. He was paroled in July 2013 from the Shawnee Correctional Center. Prior to his death, Brandon was a suspect in the shooting of Officer Robert Rolfe, a south suburban police officer, during a robbery on November 24, 2013. Harvey detectives had been searching for Brandon for nearly three weeks before his death, suspecting him to be the gunman who wounded Officer Rolfe.
The store owner who shot Brandon was not injured, and authorities indicated that no charges would likely be filed against him. Items found at the crime scene, including the gun Brandon used, were believed to be the same as those used in the shooting of Officer Rolfe. Police were awaiting ballistics test results to confirm this connection.
Brandon's criminal activities and subsequent death sparked discussions about gun laws and parole regulations. Harvey's mayor expressed outrage over Brandon's early release from prison and called for stricter gun laws to prevent similar incidents in the future. The case highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and the community in addressing violent crime and ensuring public safety.
