A person of interest is being questioned in the death of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee after being arrested in a Chicago suburb for an unrelated gun charge, sources told NBC Chicago.
The Cook County State's Attorney's office said Corey Morgan was charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and was arrested Monday. He appeared in bond court Wednesday where his bail was set at $1 million.
Morgan's attorney, Jeff Kent, said his client is innocent and has denied having any involvement in the young boy's murder. He added that Morgan was also questioned earlier this month in connection with the Tyshawn Lee investigation.
Kent confirmed Morgan turned himself in to police for questioning shortly after the 9-year-old's killing but he was released without charges.
"[Morgan] maintained his innocence when police questioned him a couple of weeks ago and maintains his innocence now," Kent said in a statement released on Morgan's behalf. "His family is supporting him through this ordeal. He says he had nothing to do with Tyshawn Lee's execution. The entire city wants the person who did this caught but it's not Corey."
Chicago Police News Affairs said in a statement that "while we can't comment on the specifics of the investigation, we are relentless in our pursuit of Justice for Tyshawn."
"CPD will continue to use every legal resource to build the strongest prosecution possible and hold Tyshawn's killers accountable to answer for their barbaric crimes against this innocent child," the statement added.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said one other person was arrested with Morgan but that person was not of interest in the Tyshawn Lee investigation.
"We're in a very good place. There are multiple people of interest. Detectives continue to make progress," he said.
Tyshawn, a fourth grader at Scott Joplin School, was shot in the head and back in an alley near his grandmother's home on the city's South Side on Nov. 2. Police said he was lured from a nearby park into the alley, where he was shot multiple times.
Investigators said the shooting appears to be gang-related.
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, who claimed the boy's father has gang ties and is not cooperating in the investigation, said police have identified the two gangs and people allegedly involved in the shooting, but can't prove "who did what."
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The child's father, Pierre Stokes, has denied authorities' claims and said he's "not the gang-banger type."
In the days after the shooting, a memorial for the boy featuring stuffed animals, candles and balloons sprouted in the alley where he was killed, but later burned down, along with a garage, in an accidental blaze sparked by one of the candles.
Police have executed several search warrants in the investigation, but have not released many details of their findings.
Authorities have pleaded with area residents for any information that will help lead to an arrest, acknowledging many residents are fearful of being targeted for speaking out.
"It takes courage to do the right thing sometimes, and at the end of the day, when good people stand up we’re going to win," McCarthy said. "We're going to solve this crime with or without the assistance of god knows who."
Father Michael Pfleger, who is known for his anti-violence activism, said he would pay money out of his own pocket to help anyone who shares information about the case move away from Chicago.
"A baby was executed," Pfleger said. "We have gone to a new low that's removed what used to be some codes, some barriers, some lines that used to be drawn in the community, some things in our city that were not acceptable."Authorities have pleaded with area residents for any information that will help lead to an arrest, acknowledging many residents are fearful of being targeted for speaking out.
"It takes courage to do the right thing sometimes, and at the end of the day, when good people stand up we’re going to win," McCarthy said. "We're going to solve this crime with or without the assistance of god knows who."
Father Michael Pfleger, who is known for his anti-violence activism, said he would pay money out of his own pocket to help anyone who shares information about the case move away from Chicago.
"A baby was executed," Pfleger said. "We have gone to a new low that's removed what used to be some codes, some barriers, some lines that used to be drawn in the community, some things in our city that were not acceptable."
