Son Of Chicago Police Officer Fatally Shot The Day He Would Have Returned To College

By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 15, 2016 2:49PM

Arshell Dennis III / Facebook

The son of a Chicago police officer was fatally shot early on Sunday morning in Wrightwood. Arshell Dennis III, 19, was home from college visiting family and was scheduled to return to college in New York that day, police said in a statement.

Dennis and an acquaintance, 20, were sitting on the porch of his home, in the 2900 block of West 82nd Street. At around midnight, a gunman shot both men, killing Dennis and wounding the other man, according to police. Dennis, who was struck in the chest, was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The second victim suffered gunshot wounds to the arm and side. He was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center and listed in serious condition.

Dennis was majoring in journalism at St. John’s University in New York City, according to reports. He was home visiting family and was scheduled to return to New York for classes on Sunday. His father, Arshell Dennis, is a DEA Task Force Officer with the Chicago Police Department, police said. Dennis worked alongside Supt. Eddie Johnson in the early 90s on the city’s South Side.

Johnson said in a statement:

"Officer Dennis dedicated his life to make this city safer, and Arshell was a good kid, making his parents proud and studying for a promising future. As always, the men and women of the CPD will stop at nothing to find who was responsible and bring a sense of closure and justice to Officer Dennis and all of families affected by violence. But in order to address the violence, we must change the way the criminal justice system treats the reckless, repeat gun offenders who are causing this violence and send a clear message that when you are involved in gun crimes you will be held accountable."

Chicago Police Department Communications Director Anthony Guglielmi said detectives are investigating the shooting as a case of mistaken identity, the Tribune reports. Neither victim has a criminal record or gang affiliations, he said.