The two 16-year-old girls were visiting a friend they had met on Facebook when the friend tossed a .38-caliber handgun on a bed.
One of the girls picked it up and began dancing and playing with the gun. It went off and the bullet struck the other girl in the eye, killing her, prosecutors disclosed Tuesday as charges were filed in the death of 16-year-old Eshunte Mayfield.
Mayfield’s 16-year-old friend was charged as a juvenile with involuntary manslaughter.
Joshua Baker, 19, the Facebook friend, was charged with obstruction of justice because he fled the home in the 6600 block of South Marquette Road after the shooting and hid the gun, according to prosecutors.
Baker was taken into custody hours later when his mother drove him to the Wentworth District police station. He appeared for a bond hearing Tuesday, and the courtroom gallery fell silent as prosecutors described the shooting.
Mayfield and her 16-year-old friend were meeting Baker for the first time Sunday after connecting on Facebook, prosecutors said. They met at his home on the second floor.
Around 7 p.m., the two girls were hanging out in a bedroom with Baker when he put a .38 special revolver on the bed. Prosecutors said the 16-year-old friend was dancing and playing with the weapon when she aimed it at Mayfield’s head and fired.
Mayfield was struck above her right eye. Police said the bullet exited the back of her skull and she was pronounced dead on the scene.
Baker’s 16-year-old brother was sleeping in the home at the time and was woken by the gunfire and the 16-year-old friend crying, prosecutors said. Baker grabbed the gun and fled with his brother. The two hid the gun behind a house a few blocks away, prosecutors said.
While running from their apartment, the brothers ran into a 54-year-old neighbor who had heard commotion and was going upstairs to see what happened. Baker indicated someone had been killed upstairs, prosecutors said.
After hiding the gun, Baker and his brother were picked up in a car by his sister. They spoke by phone to Baker’s mother, who said she had spoken to police. The brothers arranged to meet the mother at a nearby Wendy’s restaurant to discuss surrendering, prosecutors said.
Baker agreed to retrieve the gun and surrender to police. The gun was empty when Baker gave it to police before being placed into custody, prosecutors said.
During the court hearing, Baker was released on a personal recognizance bond and under the condition of a curfew. The judge also recommended Baker be placed on electronic monitoring.
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Baker had been on juvenile probation for a misdemeanor theft charge in Kane County, prosecutors said. He will next appear in court at 9 a.m. Nov. 6 in Branch 48.
The girl was ordered held in custody, with a next court date of Dec. 1.
It was not immediately clear about charges against Baker’s younger brother.