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Smith
QUINCY — The arraignment of a Quincy man charged in connection with the October 2023 death of a Quincy teenager was delayed following a court hearing on Wednesday.
Demarco P. Smith, 19, of Quincy was set to be arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and attempted armed robbery, both Class 1 felonies, and conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery, both Class 3 felonies.
Smith's attorney, Public Defender Kevin Bross, asked for a two week continuance on the arraignment, as well as a petition to revoke probation from an earlier case involving Smith.
Officers with the Quincy Police Department found Smith April 1 in the 1400 block of Spring in Quincy. As officers went to the front of the residence Smith attempted to flee out the back door then a back window before surrendering to officers at the front of the residence.
In November, Smith pleaded guilty to a criminal trespass charge stemming from an April 2023 incident. A jail sentence was stayed in lieu of second-chance probation of 24 months.
A total of nine people have been charged following the October events that left a 16-year-old girl dead on Quincy's north side. Quincy Police officers were dispatched at 4:15 a.m. Oct. 11 to the 400 block of Gardner Park Drive on a report of suspicious circumstances.
About the same time, police said a call from the 400 block of Scenic Drive reported shots fired. Upon arrival officers found a teen who was deceased inside the residence at 406 Scenic Drive.
In December, Tristian L. Johnson, 23, and Fallon M. Gillum, 21, both pleaded guilty to one count each of mob action. Both were sentenced to 18 months in prison as part of a plea deal to avoid charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted armed robbery and attempted robbery.
Six others charged as part of that day's events were minors. At the sentencing for Johnson and Gillum, Lead Trial Attorney Josh Jones said the teen who was shot and killed was part of the group attempting to rob a residence. She was shot by one of the occupants in the home.
Judge Charles Burch heard arguments from both Bross and First Assistant State's Attorney Todd Eyler on a request from the prosecution to keep Smith in custody. Eyler noted that, even when an arrest warrant was issued, Smith intentionally hid from law enforcement, including the attempt to flee when he was located on April 1.
Bross's counter-argument was that Smith never left Quincy, and therefore couldn't be said to have fled. He said during the April 1 arrest incident, Smith opened the door and saw a gun, and that fear was the reason he retreated into the residence until he realized it was law enforcement. He noted that the court has other options that can be considered other than just continued detention.
Burch ruled that Smith was "actively avoiding" law enforcement, even if he was in the city, established that Smith could pose a real and present threat to the community. He said he didn't believe home confinement or even monitoring options were appropriate options in this case.
Smith will be back in court for the arraignment and probation revocation hearing on April 24.
