By AFRO Staff
Eugene Bailey, 18, was charged with three other Chicago teens with the beating death of 16 year-old Derrion Albert last month. (Courtesy Photo)
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(October 21, 2009) - A teenager accused of beating 16-year-old Derrion Albert to death on a Chicago street last month was released from prison Oct. 20 after prosecutors dropped the murder charges against him, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Eugene Bailey, 18, was arrested two days after Albert, an honors student, was ambushed with a barrage of punches, kicks and blows to the head outside Fenger Academy High School.
In a statement, the state’s attorney’s office said, “While the charge against Bailey was brought in good faith based on witness accounts and identifications, additional information has developed during the ongoing investigation that warranted dismissal of the murder charge against Bailey at this time.”
According to the Sun-Times, Bailey left jail smiling and calling for his mother. “Mama. Mama,” he yelled before asking reporters if they knew where his relatives were.
He continued, “I feel real blessed right now. I just thank God. I’ve been praying ever since I’ve been in here. That’s it. That’s all. The food was nasty, man. That food wasn’t good. Cook County [Jail] is not the place. They treat people like animals.”
Authorities originally said Bailey delivered the “knock-out punch” to Albert. But when Bailey and the three other Chicago teens charged with Albert’s death arrived in court, prosecutors announced charges against Bailey had been dropped.
Ava Greyer, the freed teenager’s mother, has maintained her son was the victim of mistaken identity and was not among the Chicago youth involved in the melee that killed Albert.
As Bailey left the jail surrounded by his mother, other relatives and friends, he thanked God and remembered Albert.
“I just want to give a shout-out to Derrion's family, his mother and his grandmother.And I'm sorry I couldn't attend his funeral. He was a good friend of mine.”