After spending nearly two years in jail, a 21-year-old man walked free this week after prosecutors dropped a slew of murder charges against him in the death of a well-liked high school football player who was shot three years ago in Austin.
Seventeen-year-old Jeremiah Parker was shot multiple times shortly after getting out of a car Nov. 7, 2016 in the 500 block of North Lockwood in what police said was an attempted carjacking.
A man in a black hoodie approached Parker about 8:30 that night and demanded the keys to Parker’s car, police said. They struggled. Parker was shot in chest and arm. He died hours later at Stroger Hospital, authorities said.
The shooter ran off without taking Parker’s car.
On Oct. 28, 2017, Kentrell Creamer, then 19, appeared in court, charged with first-degree murder in Parker’s death. He was ordered held without bail. Creamer was later indicted on 23 felony counts of murder, as well as felony counts of armed robbery and vehicular hijacking, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On Thursday, prosecutors dropped the charges against Creamer and he was released from the Cook County Jail.
“After a thorough review, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence in this case to meet our burden of proof and proceed,” Aviva Bowen, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, said in a statement Friday.
A message left with the assistant public defender who represented Creamer was not returned and Creamer could not be reached for comment.
Parker’s relatives did not respond to a request for comment.
Parker, who lived in East Garfield Park, had dreams of playing football in college.
His coach, Germaine Padilla, posted on Facebook after Parker’s death:
“I have worked with inner city kids for nearly 20 years now and sometimes things like this happen and when you know the lifestyle they live, then a tragedy like this is almost expected. Jeremiah was not that kid!!,” Padilla wrote. “He was an amazing young man with a Barry White type voice. He would answer all his coaches by saying, ‘Yes Coach’ or ‘No Coach.’ He was a leader on and off the field and everyone enjoyed his beautiful smile. This kid always did what was asked of him and more!! He exemplified everything we wanted our Rough Riders to be.”
