16-Year-Old Charged As Adult In Romeoville Scene75 Slaying

ROMEOVILLE, IL — The 16-year-old Chicago teen charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a 19-year-old at Scene75 will be charged as an adult, according to the Will County State's Attorney's Office.

The teenager, now identified as Tavaris Blakemore, appeared in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing. His next court date is Aug. 2.

The 19-year-old who was killed has now been identified as Derrick Dillon, also of Chicago.

Blakemore remains in custody at the River Valley Detention Center, and is being held on a $5 million bond.

Romeoville Police detectives had obtained an arrest for the teenager on July 5 in connection with the fatal shooting that occurred after 10 p.m. on June 23 at the popular Romeoville venue. Another 16-year-old was also shot and wounded in the incident, which police said stemmed from an argument outside Scene75, 460 Weber Road.

Blakemore was taken into custody on July 20, as the result of a “lengthy and complicated” investigation and through a joint effort between Romeoville Police, the U.S. Marshal’s Office, and the Chicago Police Department, police said in a news release.