Four plead not guilty to charges in North Chicago fatal shooting

Four North Chicago teens pleaded not guilty to charges they killed another teen in an alley during a robbery in April.

Reggie Bryant, 18, faces up to life in prison if found guilty of killing 15-year-old Travon Beech near the 1400 block of Jackson Street in North Chicago. Co-defendants Quincy Jones, 18, of North Chicago, and Torrey Bryant, 16, and Lamonte Cook, 16, both of Chicago, face up to 75 years in prison for helping in the murder, Lake County prosecutors said Thursday.

Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said the four defendants left a North Chicago party with Beech on April 16, and tried to rob him in the alley. Reggie Bryant pulled out a 9 mm handgun and fired a round that hit Beech in the back of the head, authorities said.

Beech was found in the alley after midnight April 17, Hoffert said.

Reggie Bryant faces a more extended sentence because he is accused of firing the handgun, Hoffert said.

Torrey Bryant and Cook have been charged as adults in the case, authorities said.

The law requires a person 15 years and older facing a murder charge to be charged as an adult, Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim said. In murder cases involving suspects 14 years old and younger, it is up to the discretion of the state's attorney's office whether they should be charged as an adult, he explained.