Yesterday police charged 17-year-old Aaron Bailey for killing Eyean “Horse” Reid and wounding Steven “Cat” Arnold two weeks ago. The Excelsior High School student was slapped with one count of murder, one count of wounding, and another count of using deadly means of harm. Bailey was sent to prison but his family and the community he grew up in says he doesn’t belong there.
This afternoon his mother Alice Gill, his older sister Rasheda Bailey, and Sigmund Yrapp – a close family friend – were all on the verge of tears as they told Keith Swift that Aaron Bailey is innocent. They are sure because he was at school when the shooting occurred.
Alice Gill, Mother of Accused
“I know he didn’t do it because he was at school. I can’t even talk right now because I feel hurt. I can’t even talk right now. I went to school and I got a paper from the principal and I went and showed them and they don’t want to see the paper. It is hurting right now because my son is innocent. He is innocent and they are taking a lot of chance of him.”
Sigmund Trapp,
“That day when that shooting occurred I was right home because I am a man who runs taxi but that day my vehicle wasn’t working so I was home and I saw Aaron come from school that evening and ride right into my yard. He came and he chilled out right here on this bench where I am sitting right here so with Trevor, Herschel, Bracka, Darrell, and little colleagues and he was with us until late in the evening time.
This young boy is innocent and I want to send a message to the police, unu please, I am not getting in unu work, I am not telling unu how fi do unu work, but please do a more deeper investigation into this murder. This young boy is innocent. The person leading unu into this and are trying to inform unu or the allegate against this young boy, unu need to investigate more deeper because this lil boy can’t be in two places at the same time.
And for me and my family, Miss Gill has all the support she can get from me and if I have to take money out of my pocket and help support these people...for this lil boy noh get charge for this murder. He is like a son to me and it hurts me to know exactly what they are trying to do to him. This young boy is innocent.”
Rasheda Bailey, Sister of Accused
“I talked to my brother before he went up and he looked me in the face and told me he is innocent and to not leave him and give up on him. I can do my best and I will do my best for my brother but right now I am just hurt for everything...it is hard for him basically...he just get a charge for murder and attempted murder and they are looking to charge him again for a next attempted murder.”
We were unable to independently verify if the letter from Excelsior High School was genuine. And while Aaron Bailey is a student at Excelsior, he was on suspension the week of the shooting because he was late for class. And though his family alluded to it, police wouldn’t confirm if Aaron Bailey is being investigated for the Saturday night shooting of Louis Maskall on the Wilton Cumberbatch Field.
