On May 11, 2023, 19-year-old Marlon A. King Jr. was fatally shot in DeKalb, Illinois. The incident occurred at an apartment building in the 400 block of Russell Road, where King was involved in a confrontation that led to gunshots being fired by multiple subjects.
According to the DeKalb Police Department, officers responded to reports of shots being fired at 11:14 PM. Upon arrival, they found King and another individual, later identified as Carreon S. Scott, who had both been shot. King was transported to Northwestern Kishwaukee Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:49 PM, about 40 minutes after the shooting was reported. Scott was airlifted to a Rockford hospital for further treatment.
The investigation revealed that the shooting resulted from a physical confrontation between King, Scott, and a third individual, Jayden C. Hernandez. Prosecutors allege that both Scott and Hernandez fired the fatal shots. During the altercation, Hernandez allegedly handed a gun to Scott at his request, and a physical fight ensued between King and Scott. Hernandez claimed he tried to wrestle the gun away, resulting in a bullet being fired. King was found with a handgun in his front coat pocket, and Hernandez admitted to striking King in the head with the firearm before running into a nearby apartment and disposing of the gun.
Carreon S. Scott, 20, and Jayden C. Hernandez, 19, both of DeKalb, Illinois, have been charged with first-degree murder and mob action in connection with King's death. Scott was hospitalized until May 12 before being taken into custody, while Hernandez was also taken into custody shortly after the incident. Both are being held in the DeKalb County Jail without bond.
King, a 2022 graduate of DeKalb High School and a former basketball player for the Barbs, left behind a 2-year-old daughter. His family, including his mother and several relatives, have been present at court hearings related to the case.
The case is ongoing, with Scott requesting a new judge to preside over his case, a motion that was to be decided by Chief Judge Bradley Waller. Prosecutors have objected to Scott's request for a new judge and have asked for him to be denied bail as he awaits further court proceedings.
