A $5,000 reward has been put up to find the teenager who is suspected of killing John Materna, also referred to as the “Watermelon Man,”.
16-year-old Demarion Tackett, who is being prosecuted as an adult, failed to appear in court on Monday. Since then, he has eluded justice by running.
He is accused of Materna’s death as he was selling watermelons on the Homer Street and Wayne Avenue last year.
An anonymous donor stepped in, according to Crime Stoppers, offering $5,000 in exchange for information about Tackett’s escape.
Carjacking, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and aggravated robbery are the counts against which he has been charged.
