This week, a former student of Golder College Prep received a 62-year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of a high school senior in January 2022. The incident occurred near the school campus as students were departing for the day.
Last summer, a jury found 22-year-old Tremell Neloms guilty. His defense team argued for a sentence not exceeding 40 years, highlighting that he was a juvenile when the shooting happened, asserting that “children are different than adults.” Neloms turned 18 just 16 days after the murder. However, Judge Tyria Walton imposed a significantly harsher sentence, giving him 50 years for the murder of 15-year-old Caleb Westbrooks and an additional 12 years for attempting to murder three bystanders.
On January 18, 2022, Westbrooks, after being released early from his school, went to Golder to join friends. A school staff member directed the group to move off school grounds and wait across the street.
Prosecutors stated that around 1 p.m., Neloms exited his class at Golder and passed through the group several times. Surveillance video shared with CWB Chicago captured Neloms approaching Westbrooks at the entrance of an alley on the 800 block of North Greenview Avenue. Neloms was seen questioning Westbrooks while other group members stood nearby.
After initially walking away, Neloms returned to Westbrooks, who appeared to be smiling. He then fired shots, hitting Westbrooks, who fled from the camera’s view. The rest of the group scattered for safety, while Neloms was observed shooting at individuals running towards Golder, none of whom were hurt. Westbrooks succumbed to his injuries later that day.
The available video footage ends just before the shooting takes place:
Initially, prosecutors alleged that Neloms intended to commit a robbery when he approached Westbrooks again, and after Westbrooks questioned him about whom he was planning to rob, Neloms shot him in the stomach, arm, and chest. However, the jury acquitted Neloms of the robbery charge.
At the time of the shooting, Neloms did not have a criminal record.
Following the murder, Westbrooks’ father, Corneal, released a statement, describing his son as “a smart, vivacious and athletic teenager” who had a promising future that will now remain unfulfilled.
He further commented, “Unfortunately, this senseless violence is likely to continue unabated until the elected and appointed leadership of the city and county stop pointing fingers at one another and take personal responsibility for the role they have played in the disintegration of the criminal justice system, as well as the lack of critical mental health services in Chicago and Cook County.”
Since Neloms was under 18 when the crime was committed, state law permits him to seek parole after serving 20 years. If denied, he must wait at least 10 years before requesting a second and final review.
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