A 17-year-old has been charged in connection with a mass shooting that occurred during Chicago’s downtown tree lighting ceremony last November, authorities announced on Thursday.
Chicago police revealed that Damaurion Cherry was taken into custody on Wednesday. He was identified as a suspect in the November 21, 2025, shooting incident on North State Street, just outside the Chicago Theatre. The event drew thousands to the area for the festive occasion.
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According to police, Cherry allegedly opened fire, injuring seven teenagers. The victims included a 13-year-old girl, a 14-year-old girl, two 14-year-old boys, a 15-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy, and a 17-year-old boy.
In addition to the shooting, Cherry faces charges for robbing a 38-year-old man on the city’s South Side roughly 90 minutes after the initial incident.
Cherry is facing multiple charges, including seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated battery, and seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm. He is also charged with felony armed robbery and felony aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office reported that Cherry, who is being tried as an adult, was already on juvenile probation for a previous robbery at the time of the shooting.
Prosecutors say it was his distinct clothes and surveillance video that helped track him down.
Prosecutors say they tracked Cherry’s movement before, during and after the shooting through surveillance video from the Chicago Theatre and CTA.
Investigators say there was an argument between two groups before shots rang out.
Prosecutors say Cherry confessed to the shooting.
A judge ordered Cherry to stay behind bars.
The judge said that Cherry’s behavior showed a “complete disregard to civil society.”
About an hour after the shooting on State Street, two other people were shot in the 100-block of South Dearborn Street, which left 14-year-old Armani Floyd dead. Cherry was not charged in the Dearborn Street shooting.
Prosecutors say Cherry was shot at about two weeks ago in a separate incident that is still under investigation.
He was placed in custody after being released from the hospital Wednesday.
His mother was in court Thursday, but declined to speak to reporters.
Cherry is next due in court Feb. 25.
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