Three teenagers were involved in a shooting incident near Nicholas Senn High School in Chicago, Illinois’ Edgewater neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon, January 31, 2024, local law enforcement officials reported.
The violence resulted in the death of one teen and left two others injured.
The victims, two 16-year-old and one 15-year-old male, were walking near the school located on the 1200 block of West Thorndale Avenue.
An eyewitness observed a young man firing shots at the three boys, then escaping in a white sedan.
Daveon Gibson, 16, sustained a chest gunshot wound and was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where authorities and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed his death.
A second 16-year-old victim received injuries from bullets to his jaw, chest, and arm, leading to his critical admission to St. Francis, as stated by the police.
The third victim, aged 15, was hit in the leg and received care at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was reported to be in stable condition.
All were confirmed to be students at Nicholas Senn High School on Chicago’s North Side.
In response to the incident, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson publicly addressed the issue, describing the shooting as a targeted incident, noting there was no immediate link to a similar incident that occurred the previous week, which claimed the lives of two teenage boys in downtown Chicago.
Mayor Johnson vehemently condemned the perpetrators’ blatant disregard for human life and affirmed the city’s determination to bring those responsible to justice.
With no suspects currently in custody, police have appealed to the community for assistance in identifying the assailants.
On Thursday, February 1, a vigil took place. Edgewater community members gathered in the cold evening, holding candles and singing “Amazing Grace” in memory of the three teenage boys who were victims.
The event was held at the intersection of Magnolia and Thorndale avenues, outside Trinity Church, which coordinated the vigil.
Attendees placed flowers and plush toys on the pavement, beside a chalk message proclaiming, “You matter to us.”
A $2,000 reward, announced by community activist Andrew Holmes, is being offered for information leading to the capture of the shooters.
