Man, 26, charged with shooting death of 7-year-old

July 1, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Jerrel Dorsey of Chicago was charged Sunday in the shooting of 7-year-old Heaven Sutton on Wednesday night and a judge ordered that he be held without bond.

Relatives of the murdered child cried as prosecutors outlined Dorsey -- allegedly fired ten times into a crowd gathered in front of the home candy stand run by heaven and her mom.

The judge called Dorsey a dangerous individual who shouldn't be allowed out of jail before he stands trial.

"He shouldn't have done that. He had no right to take that baby's life. He had no right to take her life."

Some of Sutton's relatives and friends of were overcome with emotion just moments after a judge denies bond for the alleged gang-member accused in the fatal shooting of the little girl.

"It was good," Sutton's mother, Ashake Banks said. "No numbers, no money. The hood can raise money. His mother and them can put up their houses, but with no bond he'll sit right there."

The child's mother and others left court this afternoon somewhat relieved that the 26-year-old Dorsey will remain behind bars after being charged with first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.

Investigators say the West Side resident is one of two men who opened fire on a group while Sutton helped her mother sell candy to neighborhood kids.

They had a stand set up outside their West Side home.

The girl died Wednesday night after being struck in the back by a stray bullet.

"Anyone that kills a baby is dangerous."

Dorsey became a person of interest after being identified by witnesses to the attack.

Officers say he tried to flee as he was taken into custody late Friday night.

While Dorsey's attorney, Eric Dunham, admits his client was in the area during the shooting, he said he isn't the shooter and was planning on turning himself in before he was arrested.

"I can say that when all the evidence comes out, Mr. Dorsey was not the person that pulled the trigger that killed little Heaven," Dunham said.

Police are calling the shooting gang-related and the result of growing tension between two rival factions in the Austin neighborhood where

Many struggle with the reality that the girl who loved to jump rope and the color pink is gone.

"I hope everyone just gets together and just do the right thing," said family friend Keisha Lagrier.

Sutton's funeral is scheduled for Friday morning at St. Mark's International Christian Church.

The girl's mother says before the tragedy, the family was planning to go to Disney World.

She says she's still taking heaven's brothers, because she would have wanted it that way.

Get more Local »

local, evelyn holmes

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•