West Loop ramen cook charged in murder at Bronzeville McDonald’s witnessed by 10 kids

The McDonald’s restaurant at 740 E. 47th Street where the murder allegedly took place. | Google Maps

A 23-year-old man charged as the gunman in a deadly McDonald’s shooting in Bronzeville — which was allegedly witnessed by 10 children — was denied bail Thursday.

Demetrius Gibson faces a charge of first-degree murder in the March 12 shooting of 26-year-old Deshawn Rogers inside a McDonald’s restaurant at 740 E. 47th Street, according to Cook County prosecutors.

Judge John F. Lyke Jr. called the circumstances that led to the shooting — an argument that turned physical inside the fast food restaurant — “totally senseless” when he ordered Gibson held without bail.

“I’m at a loss for words,” the judge said, noting the children and teens at the restaurant.

Prosecutors said Gibson was working as a sales representative for a marketing company on the day of the shooting and had set up a table in front of the McDonald’s to solicit customers with his brother and a friend.

Demetrius Gibson

Shortly after 4 p.m., Deshawn Rogers arrived at the restaurant to eat with a friend and was solicited by Gibson’s group as he went inside, leading to a “brief” exchange of words between the two groups.

Gibson followed Rogers inside, leading to a confrontation. During the fight, Rogers put Gibson’s brother in a headlock and Gibson came up behind him, pulled out a 9-mm handgun and fired a shot into Rogers’ back, prosecutors said.

Rogers fell to the floor and Gibson stood over him as he fired a second shot, again striking Rogers in the back, prosecutors said.

Rogers, who lived in the neighborhood, died at University of Chicago Medical Center about an hour later.

Prosecutors said Gibson was identified as the shooter by McDonald’s employees and the shooting was captured on the restaurant’s surveillance cameras. CTA surveillance cameras also recorded Gibson as he fled while wearing a “distinctive red coat with fur on the trim of the hood,” prosecutors said.

Gibson was charged with unlawful use of a weapon after he was found in possession of a 9-mm handgun during a Nov. 3 traffic stop that ballistics testing found matched two shell casings found at McDonald’s after the shooting, prosecutors said.

Gibson was taken into custody Tuesday at the Skokie Courthouse in connection with the shooting.

An assistant public defender for Gibson said he was working as a line cook at a West Loop ramen restaurant and attends church.

His next court date on the murder charge was set for Nov. 21.