Quincy man facing robbery charges in October shooting death accepts plea for mob action, gets two years in prison

QUINCY — A Quincy man pled guilty on Wednesday to three felonies, including one in connection with the shooting death last October of a 16-year-old girl, and was given three two-year sentences to be served concurrently in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Demarco Smith, 19, appeared with attorney Nick Rober in Adams County Circuit Court before Judge Holly Henze.

Smith pled guilty to one count of mob action, a Class 4 felony, for his role in the death of Mackenzie Bullard, who was shot and killed as the result of an armed robbery during which a group of adults and juveniles allegedly conspired to steal a gun. Bullard, a student in the Quincy School District, was found dead in the early morning of Oct. 11 in a home on the 400 block of Scenic Drive.

Charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted armed robbery and attempted robbery all were dismissed as part of plea negotiations.

Smith was arrested at a residence in the 1400 block of Spring on April 1.

Two other people received prison sentences for their actions in connection to Bullard’s death. Fallon M. Gillum and Tristian L. Johnson were arrested in November in connection with the incident. Both eventually agreed in February to plead guilty to mob action, a Class 4 felony, and accepted 18-month sentences in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Smith pled guilty to a second count of mob action, as well as two misdemeanor firearm charges, stemming from a July 1, 2023, incident at Ninth and Elm. Charging documents filed in Adams County said Smith, with one or more persons acting together, used force or violence by possessing a loaded Ruger pistol.

Smith also pled guilty Wednesday to one count of criminal trespass to a residence, a Class 4 felony, for his part in an April 2023 burglary. He pled guilty to criminal trespass on Nov. 1, 2023, and had been sentenced to 24 months of probation. One count of home invasion, a Class X felony, was dismissed as part of plea negotiations.

After Smith was arrested April 1 as part of the Bullard investigation, a petition to revoke his probation was filed the next day.

Smith was given credit for 118 days served in the Adams County Jail.  He must serve 50 percent of his sentence under the state’s truth in sentencing law. He also must serve six years of mandatory supervised release after he completes his time in prison.