CHICAGO – A teenager charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of a woman reported to be his mother appeared in court Saturday.
Family members of 17-year-old Davion Pryor, who is being tried as an adult, showed up to the Cook County Criminal Courthouse and requested not to be on camera, but said Pryor had been diagnosed with a mental health illness and was receiving help.
The family emphasized the need for increased funding and resources for others in similar circumstances.
Prosecutors said that shortly before 4 p.m. on Sept. 19, Pryor’s parents were arriving at their South Shore home after picking up his 7-year-old brother from school.
Prosecutors allege as Pryor’s mother was unlocking the door, Pryor was on the other side and shot her in the head and body at point blank range. They went on to say the father and brother heard more gunshots as they ran out to call 911.
Police officers reportedly found a 9mm handgun and 12 shell casings next to the mother’s body. She was rushed to the hospital and died from her injuries.
Hours after the shooting, Pryor turned himself in and is currently facing first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors also mentioned Pryor has two pending juvenile cases – one for carjacking and another for aggravated battery. He was also on home confinement at the time of the shooting.
Pryor’s defense team argued that while they acknowledge it’s a murder case, they believe there’s no reason for society to be concerned as it was a familial situation and proposed he should be placed on electronic monitoring.
As these details came to light, Judge David Kelly asked Pryor to raise his head as he had kept it down for most of the hearing. The judge was visibly emotional while speaking to the teen, saying that it was an unprovoked shooting that led to his mother’s death in front of his father and sibling.
Prosecutors believe the teen’s actions posed a threat to the community. Judge Kelly agreed and ordered him to stay in custody.
Pryor is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 27, while his juvenile cases are set for Oct. 3.