Crime & Safety

Update: Third Individual Charged in Heights Homicide

Derrick Bell was killed after an altercation involving a stolen television, police say.

This article was updated at 9:23 p.m. on Mar. 1.

A third individual has been charged with involvement in the shooting death of 19-year-old Derrick Bell, police said.

Pablo Peña, 21, of the 800 block of Sangamon, where the body was found, was charged with first-degree murder, Sgt. Tom Rogers said. Chicago Heights police had already charged Peña's brother, Giovanni Peña, 18, with first-degree murder, as well as a 16-year-old the Southtown Star identified as Michael Martin of the first block of North State Street in Glenwood.

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"We're looking to possibly have more suspects charged tomorrow [Wednesday]," Rogers said.

The younger Peña and Bell got into an argument about Peña's possible involvement in the theft of a TV from two of Bell's friends, Chicago Heights Sgt. Tom Rogers said.

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"It all stemmed from the victim and his friends accusing Giovanni and his friends of stealing a flat-screen TV from the first floor basement apartment in the 800 Sangamon address," Rogers said. "The altercation ended in gun fire."

Police said they found Bell lying in front of Peña's residence with a gunshot wound Friday Feb. 25. Paramedics were unable to save him.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said Bell was killed by a shot to the back, and that his mother identified him early Saturday afternoon.

The family of Derrick Bell has asked that their address be removed from this article.


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