Hundreds Gather For Funeral Of 9-Year-Old Tyshawn Lee

By Kate Shepherd in News on Nov 10, 2015 6:47PM

Tyshawn Lee (GoFundMe)

Hundreds flocked to a Tuesday morning service for 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee, who was killed last week in a tragic shooting that police believe was committed as gang retaliation.

"Our children have a right to walk our streets," said Father Michael Pfleger, who spoke at the the funeral. "Our children have a right to play in the park. Our children have a right to sit on their porch. Our children have a right expect to be safe wherever they are in the city of Chicago. Our children deserve that."

Funeral attendees included Lee's friends and family, teachers from his school, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th Ward), U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and "Chi-Raq" star Nick Cannon, according to the Tribune.

Lee was lured into a South Side alley near his grandmother's house last week, and police believe he was shot several times in retaliation for his father's gang ties. The shocking death sparked outrage from Emanuel, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and many Chicagoans.

"This is a new low for Chicago," Pfleger said during the service which is being held at his St. Sabina parish in Auburn Gresham. Lee's small coffin arrived at the church just before 9:30 a.m. and the services started around 11 a.m., according to ABC7.

The image of Spongebob Squarepants on the program handed out to attendees is heartbreaking:

Lee was carrying a basketball in his hands when he was gunned down on his way to the park to play ball.

"Chicago has to face itself. We had nearly 400 murders this year, over 2200 shootings here. We have a problem here," Pfleger told the crowd.

Lee's parents have faced some criticism from Chicagoans for how they've handled the money raised in the wake of his death.