The gun violence in Chicago continues to claim the lives of promising young people, as high school freshman Dajae Coleman, 14, was shot and killed while walking home from a party Saturday night.
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According to the Chicago Tribune, Coleman was less than a mile away from home when he was shot, and police continue to search for suspects in the teen’s slaying.
Coleman was killed around 10:30 p.m. when police responded to a call of gunshots in the 1500 block of Church Street, and found Dajae, a freshman at Evanston Township High School, fatally shot.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune:
Cherylette Hilton said she heard a couple of gunshots while driving nearby Saturday night. At Church Street, she saw a group of about 10 teenagers and heard three more shots, Hilton said. Police had released little information about the incident Sunday evening.
Dajae, of the 1900 block of Foster Street in Evanston, was often in the gym preparing for his first year of high school hoops.
“He just idolized basketball players,” said his mother, Tiffany Rice. “Everything was basketball, basketball, basketball.”
Gibson said the young point guard was talented and a joy to coach.
A few days before his death, Dajae wrote an essay for his humanities class about his respect for his family and another basketball coach. Parts of the essay read like a bittersweet thank you to the adults in his life.
“I think the kids that are on the street not doing anything with their lives don’t get the type of support they need from family,” he wrote. “They probably don’t have anyone to look up to.”
“I’m very fortunate,” he wrote, “to have the family I have.”
Today, classes resumed at Evanston Township High School as students are mourning the death of the Coleman.
Evanston police are working with the north regional major crimes task force to solve the case. They are calling it an active investigation.
A fundraiser for Coleman’s family will be held at 9 p.m. Thursday at Cafe Sunset, 5726 N. Western Ave. All proceeds from the event will go to his mother to help pay for expenses.
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SOURCE: ChicagoTribune
