Second teen charged in connection with Keyon Day's murder has case transferred to adult court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A second teen who is charged in connection with 16-year-old Keyon Day's murder has had their case transferred to adult court.

Two teens are charged in the deadly shooting that happened near Southeast High School on April 24. Police were called to the 2300 block of Taylor Ave., just south of the school, at 8:42 a.m. They found the boy with at least one gunshot wound to the lower torso. He was rushed into surgery at the hospital but did not survive. He was later identified as Keyon Day.

One of the suspects, who is 16 years old, was already charged as an adult with First-Degree Murder, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm by a Street Gang Member was arraigned Friday.

Police said he fired the shots that killed Day using a stolen firearm from a stolen vehicle driven by the second suspect.

He entered a plea of not guilty.

His next court appearance is set for July 8 at 10:30 a.m.

The second 16-year-old suspect has now also been charged as an adult.

WAND News is choosing not to name the suspects due to their age.

Under Illinois law, transfers from Juvenile Court to Adult Court for First Degree Murder are discretionary until individuals reach the age of sixteen. A Petition to Transfer was filed by the State’s Attorney’s Office and the teen appeared in court on June 3 in front of Judge Karen Tharp.

The teen was 15 at the time of the shooting but has since turned 16.

Judge Tharp ruled that the transfer was appropriate, finding it was not in the best interest of the public for the charges to remain in Juvenile Court and that the security of the public requires him to be subject to charges as an adult.

After the transfer hearing, he was charged as an adult with the same counts, was arraigned, and was ordered detained. The teen's next court appearance is scheduled for June 20.

When one or more people act together to commit a crime, all of those involved can be charged with the same offense, even if they think they are playing a minor part of the crime.

The sentence for First Degree Murder is 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with no good-time credit available.

If a jury finds that either defendant personally discharged the firearm that killed Day there is an additional enhancement of 25 years to life added to the sentence, which is discretionary for juveniles charged as adults. Both juveniles remain in custody.

The gun that was allegedly used in the homicide has been recovered.

State’s Attorney Milhiser said, “Violent crime committed by anyone in our community, including juveniles, will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to protect our neighborhoods from those that seek to cause harm.”

Springfield Police Chief Kenny Scarlette added, “With the summer months upon us, we are laser-focused on keeping our streets safe and will continue to work with our partners to identify and investigate violent crime."

All people charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.