9-Year-Old Fatally Shot In Alley Near Grandmother's House

By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Nov 3, 2015 4:01PM

A 9-year-old boy was killed after being shot several times in a South Side alley just a couple doors down from his grandmother's home Monday afternoon.

Police say that Tyshawn Lee was killed after a group of people started arguing in an Auburn alley. Police say it's not clear whether the boy was actually targeted or just in the wrong place at the wrong time, according to the Tribune. Tyshawn was shot several times in his upper body around 4:15 p.m. near South Damen Avenue and 80th Street. By 4:39 p.m., he was pronounced dead.

A basketball that Tyshawn used to carry around with him was found near the scene, ABC7 reports.

His mother Karla Lee told the Tribune that he used to tell her he would make it in the NBA and buy her a new house

"He was going to make me real proud of him. I believed every word my son said," she said. "He's a good kid. He didn't deserve that, he didn't deserve that."

A friend has set up a GoFundMe to help with his funeral expenses:

On today November 2,2015 my friend lost her only reasons for living which was her son they took her baby away from her to a senseless act of gun violence she was a single mother who do her best to raise her child to give him the best life possible she wasn't planning on losing her child so we asking family and friends to help her in her time of need with any small donations to help her lay her son to rest.

Neighbors said that they're fed up with wave after wave of violence in the neighborhood. Raynetta Tyler told ABC7, "It's terrible. I feel so bad. This baby could have done no wrong. A 9-year-old kid. What could he have done wrong? It's nothing a 9-year-old could do to deserve this."

Police are checking out surveillance footage for any clues about who may have shot Tyshawn. Local churches are offering at least $6,000 in the case to anyone who comes forward. Anyone with information is asked to call Chicago police at (312) 747-8271.

The heartbreaking case has attracted a lot of attention. Local rapper King Yella responded to the killing with an angry YouTube video, asking for a halt to violence. And Hillary Clinton, who was just in town, tweeted about the case:

While in Chicago discussing the way forward, another child dies from gun violence just miles away. Devastating. https://t.co/3mXyMSTsxk -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 3, 2015