Vigil held for 15-year-old Chicago boy who was killed, set on fire

FOX 32 NEWS - Emotions ran high at a vigil Tuesday night for a 15-year-old boy who's body was found burned beyond recognition in a West Side alley.

"Community, I need your help! They killed my baby out here in this alley! I need somebody, you know something, please come forward," cried Polynesia Sykes, the mother of 15-year-old Demetrius Griffin.

Sykes called out the community for allowing her son's murder to go unsolved.

Griffin's body was discovered early Saturday morning in a trash can behind the 5500 block of West Cortez. Unconfirmed reports suggest he was beaten and shot multiple times before his body was set on fire.

Griffin, who just started his freshman year at Steinmetz College Prep, was just identified by the medical examiner Tuesday.

"My son was a beautiful kid, he wasn't a gang member, he was a very respectful kid, he walked everybody in the neighborhood's dog, he loved everyone," Sykes said of her son.

Griffin was last seen by his girlfriend after walking her home from school Friday. The alley where his body was found was between school and home.

"We have to just stop all this foolishness, craziness, hurting and grief on family members, somebody has to go through another funeral, look at the grief this family is feeling," said Emma Mitts, Alderman 37th Ward.

Griffin's mother helped put a poster with her son's picture on a tree, writing "RIP Noonie," her son's nickname, above the picture.

His great aunt had a message for those who know something, but don't want to get involved.

"You tell! It ain't no shutting mouth, you tell what you've seen, you tell what you know, you don't let these kids keep dying for nothing," said Virginia Riley.

Police had issued an alert indicating that someone involved in setting Griffin's body on fire may have suffered burns in the process.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Area North Violent Crimes Unit at (312) 744-8261.