A 17-year-old Chicago boy has been indicted in a Rogers Park killing that sparked an outcry among neighbors and made some wary of teens who attend community events at a nearby community center.

A Cook County grand jury on Wednesday indicted Leroy Prothro on involuntary manslaughter charges in the Feb. 10 beating death of Wayne Jones.

Authorities said the incident unfolded about 10:50 p.m. as Jones and another man began arguing on the street. Prothro, who was friends with the second man, crossed the street, approached Jones from behind and hit him. Jones, 50, fell, hit his head on the sidewalk and died the following day.

The crime caused a controversy in the neighborhood because it occurred less than thirty minutes after a party down the block at the Howard Area Community Center (HACC) wrapped up.

The party was supervised by chaperones, and a city police squad car provided additional security. By 10:35 p.m., only a few teens and staff were left at the HACC facility and on the block.

But ssme in the community believed the teens attending the party had been involved in Jones' death.

John Fitzgerald, HACC's executive director, said the suspicion is related to the neighborhood's changing demographics.

'Historically teenagers are not the most favorite members of the community, then our kids are minorities who are less desirable to those who want to gentrify,' he said. 'There are those who would like to see us out.'

Age and race, he noted, 'can create real problems.'

Detectives questioned those who attended the party, as well as HACC staff, in hopes they would identify someone who had witnessed the event.

A week after Jones' death, some of the HACC participants attended a prayer circle. They were greeted with suspicion by community members.

'We are looking further into the situation and are trying to see how we can better present our programs to the community,' said Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald confirmed that Prothro, of the 7500 block of North Sheridan Road, was not involved in any HACC programs.

Prothro appears again in court on April 27 and is currently being held in Cook County jail in lieu of $125,000 bond.