What a few days ago was an empty building in the 200 block of North Seventh Street is now the site of a homicide.

Friends of the deceased gathered in front of the building in the afternoon, where flowers and a cross were placed sometime during the day, to show grief.

The building was later blocked off by the DeKalb Police Department.

Jayson Martin, 19, of DeKalb, was gunned down in a gang dispute at 7:31 p.m. Tuesday near the building and pronounced dead less than an hour later at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

DeKalb police apprehended the suspect, Max J. Keding, 15, of DeKalb, Wednesday afternoon. Keding is facing multiple charges, including first degree murder. Keding will be tried as an adult on all charges.

Police still have not recovered the weapon.

“Only one real gun” was used at the incident and approximately five or six shots were fired, DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said.

Feithen said he could not comment about other weapons used during the fight because they had not yet been confirmed.

Martin was hit at least once in the chest, Feithen said. Keding received a gun shot in the arm, which happened during a struggle at the beginning of the shooting.

Both Martin and Keding are affiliated with gangs.

Martin was a self-professed affiliate with the Gangster Disciples but his position or rank in the gang cannot be speculated, Feithen said.

Keding is affiliated with rival gang the Latin Kings, Feithen said.

Keding wore gang colors and a crucifix at the time of the shooting and police found markings associated with the Latin Kings, he said.

“The indications are that this was an ongoing disagreement, a feudal disliking for each other which culminated in the sense of what happened last night,” Feithen said.

Police were aware of some friction between the gangs but had not received any information of this particular incident prior to it happening, he said.

“We hope young people who were involved learn that the tragic loss of life is not the answer,” Feithen said. “It only leads to more violence, arrests and people going to jail.”

“We also hope that through this incident, kids take the opportunity to learn a life lesson and stay away from gang affiliation,” he said.

Representatives of nearby business Novo 1, 304 N. Sixth St., witnessed the shooting from a distance while walking home after work Tuesday night.

Some employees left around 7:30 p.m. and came back two minutes later asking someone to call 911, manager Pat Margolies said.

“We heard pops, then screaming, swearing and cries for help,” she said. “It was all over really quick.”

Another local business owner, Vonei White, of CAR Hospital, 303 N. Seventh St., was not a witness to the shooting but said the neighborhood has never felt threatening before.

“We haven’t had any problems with people breaking into cars or loitering,” White said.

There are a lot of kids walking around in the afternoon but no suspicious activity, she said.

But in the wake of the shooting, police cannot begin to determine what the future holds.

“Where there is gang activity or presence, there is always potential for this kind of incident to happen,” Feithen said.