Dec. 20--The shooting death of a 15-year-old boy in front of his twin brother during a robbery has prompted a fundraising drive that has raised nearly $30,000 so far for the boy's funeral and for a scholarship fund for the surviving brother.
"Due to the overwhelming response to this fundraiser. . .your contributions will be used to support a scholarship fund for Demacio Bailey, Demario's twin brother," the boys' school, Johnson College Prep, said in a statement on the YouCaring fundraising site.
With eight days left in the online drive, $28,199 had been raised by Friday afternoon, according to the website.
The goal had been $20,000 to help the family with funeral and other expenses, said Dr. Garland Thomas-McDavid, the principal of Johnson College Prep.
"Right now our goal was to help mom deal with the funeral expenses," said Thomas-McDavid.
On Wednesday, the school said some of the contributions would go toward scholarship money for Damacio.
The brothers were attacked after they got off a bus at 63rd and State streets Saturday afternoon and walked toward the school for Demacio's basketball practice. Four robbers approached them in a viaduct and started rifling through their pockets, police said.
Demario pushed one of the robbers off his brother and was shot in the chest, according to police.
Four teens -- three 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old -- have been charged with murder.
Visitation was scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday at Callahan Funeral Home, 7030 S Halsted Street.
There will also be visitation at 9 a.m. Saturday at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church Worship Center at 754 E. 77th St. Funeral services will follow there at 10 a.m.
