Darryl McKinney was about to be a sophomore at Orr Academy. But now, his friends and family are planning his funeral. McKinney was an unintended target, gunned down in gang crossfire.
‘Every day they are dying and getting shot, the innocent bystanders. Why? Why so much violence? Can’t everybody just come to a compromise?’ sister Nelli-michel-le McKinney said tearfully.
Darryl McKinney was killed Saturday night visiting a classmate’s Humboldt Park home.
Darryl, or ‘D.J.’, is the brother of the number-two high school basketball player in the state. Mychael Henry says he plans to dedicate every game he plays to his brother.
‘He was a good kid. He looked up to me. I was happy about that. I liked him around. I just miss him,’ Henry said.
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The deadly violence comes two weeks after a secret meeting between top law enforcers and reputed leaders of several West Side street gangs where cops issued the warning, stop the killing or else.
‘We just started this program. I don’t expect shootings to stop overnight. It is something we want to work for. It has been successful in other cities,’ said Supt. Jody Weis, Chicago Police Department.
Darryl McKinney was one of several victims of weekend violence. In all, five people were killed and 18 were wounded.
