2 men charged with murder in Evanston drug deal

Two men have been charged with first-degree murder in an apparent drug deal gone bad earlier this month in north suburban Evanston.

Julius Francellno and Malik Caswell, both 18, were charged with killing Yakez Semark, 20, on Feb. 8 in the 1800 block of Hovland Court in Evanston, according to Evanston police.

About 11:40 p.m., Francellno and Caswell met with Semark to buy marijuana, but the deal turned into a fight between Francellno and Semark, police said.

That fight escalated and Francello shot Semark in the chest and then ran away with Caswell, police said.

Semark was taken to Evanston Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m., authorities said. He lived in the North Side Rogers Park neighborhood, according to the Cook Country medical examiner’s office.

Francellno, of Evanston, was arrested Thursday, and Caswell, of Chicago, was arrested Saturday, police said. Both are scheduled to appear in bond court Monday.