Teen fatally shot on Little Village street

The shooting occurred about 7:45 p.m. in the 2600 block of West 23rd Place on Chicago's Southwest Side, police said.

[PDQ]

It is so sad when I read stories of young men killing other young men/boys right on our streets.
Where are these parents of the boys/men shooting? How did you raise your children? As killers??? Or do you not care because they are paying the rent, buying the groceries and feeding your younger children from the sale of drugs or from stealing.
Please stop your children from killing! Please step up and talk with the police if you saw anything or overhear anything on the streets about this shooting or other shootings or gang related violence or the sale of drugs in your area. That is your neighborhood. I know in our neighborhoods we speak up, talk to other neighbors, go to meetings with the police and fire departments to talk about what can be done to make our neighborhoods safer for our children. We protect our children and teach them wrong from right - we believe our children are our future.

[Gabrielle]

Hearing this coming from my old neighborhood justifies my decision to leave the area, attend college, graduate, and marry someTheyone who shares the values I have for myself and my family.

My parents were non-educated laborers who worked hard, not just at their jobs, but raising me and my siblings. They knew that we had to get an education in spite of the system, and get the **** out of there or we would end up like so many people who live in that area.

The opportunities are there, and the parents either don't know and/or care.

[SAT]

if the gangs keep killing ea other great
but when the innocent are hurt that is wrong
but 16 and shot on the streets, where were the parents, dont they care where their 16 yr old is?
says a lot about the parents too
i would never raise a child in chicago

[TOM SLICK]

Gabrielle wrote:

Hearing this coming from my old neighborhood justifies my decision to leave the area, attend college, graduate, and marry someTheyone who shares the values I have for myself and my family.
My parents were non-educated laborers who worked hard, not just at their jobs, but raising me and my siblings. They knew that we had to get an education in spite of the system, and get the **** out of there or we would end up like so many people who live in that area.
The opportunities are there, and the parents either don't know and/or care.

Congradulations on making it out. I know it wasn't easy, but where there is a will, there is a way.

[KLW]

It pisses me off to see people respond that good, one less puck off the street. He wa s akid who had his entire life to make a difference, if given the chance. I wonder how they would feel if this was their brother, son, nephew, unlce, etc. that had been killed. Being killed does not help the problem we face in our city. My prayers of out to that family because no one should have to go through that.

[mom in chicago]

Greg wrote:

<quoted text>
May a cop shoot you while you're unarmed and may nobody give a rat's ass!!- Gangbanger Killa!!

greg, you should not have wated your time replying..these gang-bangers love to rile people up, put fear in them etc., etc.....i live a few blocks away...we have a beautiful home, but our children NEVER go out without us.....we monitor every activity. it's just so sad how some of these gangbangers live. it's truly pathetic....in the article it mentioned that some of the people at the scene claim to have seen nothing. please, if you saw something, please tell the police. be brave. if we stick together, then the gangbangers won't win..maybe this cold blooded killer will be caught....

[mom in chicago]

KLW wrote:

It pisses me off to see people respond that good, one less puck off the street. He wa s akid who had his entire life to make a difference, if given the chance. I wonder how they would feel if this was their brother, son, nephew, unlce, etc. that had been killed. Being killed does not help the problem we face in our city. My prayers of out to that family because no one should have to go through that.

your right. it is so sad...this kid had his whole life ahead of him. can not imagine what the family is feeling. God bless them...

[mom in chicago]

SAT wrote:

if the gangs keep killing ea other great
but when the innocent are hurt that is wrong
but 16 and shot on the streets, where were the parents, dont they care where their 16 yr old is?
says a lot about the parents too
i would never raise a child in chicago

let's be careful not to judge. it was 8:00 at night. he was on his way home....how do we know they did not know where he was...i live around here and don't let my kids out alone...maybe they felt safe...but the last thing they need now is all of us questioning their parenting. i'm sure they are questioning all their choices and the pain of that will be with them forever. the consequence is pretty big. they lost their son. so, i don't think we need to make it any worse. we should actually be hoping that out of this tragedy other parents would wake up and keep a tight rein on their kids!!!!

[Michael]

Gabrielle wrote:

Hearing this coming from my old neighborhood justifies my decision to leave the area, attend college, graduate, and marry someTheyone who shares the values I have for myself and my family.
My parents were non-educated laborers who worked hard, not just at their jobs, but raising me and my siblings. They knew that we had to get an education in spite of the system, and get the **** out of there or we would end up like so many people who live in that area.
The opportunities are there, and the parents either don't know and/or care.

Good GIRL!!!

[Michael]

mom in chicago wrote:

<quoted text>greg, you should not have wated your time replying..these gang-bangers love to rile people up, put fear in them etc., etc.....i live a few blocks away...we have a beautiful home, but our children NEVER go out without us.....we monitor every activity. it's just so sad how some of these gangbangers live. it's truly pathetic....in the article it mentioned that some of the people at the scene claim to have seen nothing. please, if you saw something, please tell the police. be brave. if we stick together, then the gangbangers won't win..maybe this cold blooded killer will be caught....

MOM!!!

Be a good a parent, and take care of your own, and let GOD deal with those own walk in the darkness, they too, shall come into the light of his son JESUS.

[Think First]

SAT wrote:

if the gangs keep killing ea other great
but when the innocent are hurt that is wrong
but 16 and shot on the streets, where were the parents, dont they care where their 16 yr old is?
says a lot about the parents too
i would never raise a child in chicago

So what you are sayiong is that all kids cannot be out of the house at 7:45PM. I don't claim to know the circumstances, but kids (especially at 16) should be allowed to have some freedom. Its just sad that they cannot do it in their own neighborhoods.

[Baby Gurl]

Roky was not in a gang! I know this because I was a personal friend of his! Kids should look at this story and take in consideration how dangerous gangs really are, and how far they are willing to go! Who ever did this to Roky did not think in the moment that he had a family who loved him. A mother and father who are suffering because their son just passed away, and friends WHO ALSO LOVED HIM AND CARED ABOUT HIM!*~ R.I.P ROKY!~* Always and Forever we love u!

[Julie]

Baby Gurl wrote:

Roky was not in a gang! I know this because I was a personal friend of his! Kids should look at this story and take in consideration how dangerous gangs really are, and how far they are willing to go! Who ever did this to Roky did not think in the moment that he had a family who loved him. A mother and father who are suffering because their son just passed away, and friends WHO ALSO LOVED HIM AND CARED ABOUT HIM!*~ R.I.P ROKY!~* Always and Forever we love u!

Baby Gurl, if you are close enough to him to know that he was not in a gang, you or someone you know must know something about why he was targeted.. I plead you or anyone that knows anything to go to the police so this madness can stop and the perpetrators can rot in jail for a long time and think about what they did... I suspect Roky was not innocent, but the responsible parties for taking this childs life need to be punished..

[Done]

Someone saw what happen and you know they wont talk. This is why the crime rate is so high. Everybody want help from the police but they never will tell them what they saw!They want more surveillance cameras installed,why dont the people who saw what happen tell you are the cameras start talking and stop the killings.

[SAT]

when i was 16 i was not out looking for a job at 7:45 pm
at 16 when it is dark and you live in an area where there is a gang problem a parent should get their kids in the house
16, winter it is dark get in and hit the books thats my view, has nothing to do with a 16 yr old having freedom
i was 16 once but i also know my parent would not have me out at 7:45 looking for a job, playing, shopping etc.its a school night
thank you

[Speedy Gonzalez]

Gabrielle wrote:

<quoted text>
Baby Gurl,
First thing, have some pride in yourself and use the correct spelling in your messages. It's an embarrassment to Hispanics that the English language is butchered. The reason that I have the life I live now is because I use the English correctly both professionally and personally.
As a Hispanic woman who grew up around 23rd Street and Damen Avenue; I know all about this so-called "Code of Slience". It is completely unacceptable and irresponsible to keep quiet when someone is murdered. If you are such a good friend to him, and he was not involved in a gang; then step up and be a strong woman and inform the authorities as to why he was killed.
If you don't tell the police what you know, then you are no friend of the victim, More importantly, you're part of the problem.

Yeah okay whatever! You know damn well gangs have connections with the cops around the neighborhood. Even if this girl comes forward there's nothing to guarantee her safety. The point is the law is not tough enough on criminals. So our best defense for those of us still living in pilsen and little village is to stay indoors after hours or deal with it in our own terms. There's no doubt gangbangers are out of control SD,Latin Kings it's a whole new bread they have no code of honor.

[Karma]

Gabrielle wrote:

<quoted text>
Baby Gurl,
First thing, have some pride in yourself and use the correct spelling in your messages. It's an embarrassment to Hispanics that the English language is butchered. The reason that I have the life I live now is because I use the English correctly both professionally and personally.
As a Hispanic woman who grew up around 23rd Street and Damen Avenue; I know all about this so-called "Code of Slience". It is completely unacceptable and irresponsible to keep quiet when someone is murdered. If you are such a good friend to him, and he was not involved in a gang; then step up and be a strong woman and inform the authorities as to why he was killed.
If you don't tell the police what you know, then you are no friend of the victim, More importantly, you're part of the problem.

Gabrielle, maybe you should consider changing your name to Self-Righteous.

How dare you sit there and criticize this girl. She just lost a friend and in spite of that, is thinking of others. She's trying to tell kids to stay away from gangs. It's nice to know that you made it out of that neighborhood (or should I say ran out) but this isn't about you.
Did you ever stop to think that the Code of Silence you speak of is keeping people alive in these neighborhoods? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that people shouldn't come forward if they saw something, because they should.

[Gabrielle]

Speedy Gonzalez wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah okay whatever! You know damn well gangs have connections with the cops around the neighborhood. Even if this girl comes forward there's nothing to guarantee her safety. The point is the law is not tough enough on criminals. So our best defense for those of us still living in pilsen and little village is to stay indoors after hours or deal with it in our own terms. There's no doubt gangbangers are out of control SD,Latin Kings it's a whole new bread they have no code of honor.

Speedy,

I'm talking about people who live in the neighborhood have to take responsiblity for speaking up about who is involved in criminal activities. Period.

You may have all the conspiracy theories you could name which has a probability of being true. I know for a fact that are some police officers within the 10th District who are tied to gangs. One thing that gangs do not want is having attention drawn to them. it wsa true back when I grew up in that neighborhood, and it is true now.

The gangs members may be a different breed now, the problem is still the same. There will be marches planned and executed, Spanish language television (maybe some English language stations as well) will roll tape, and people will publicly denounce the murder. After the cameras disapper, the gangs re-appear and chaos ensues in the same space that "advocates" marched on earlier.

Again, until the people who live in the area step up, point out the criminals, and testify in court against the accused; the gangs will rule the neighborhood.

Baby Gurl, concentrate on getting your education, practice what you have learned in school (in spite of horrible CPS schools); and get out of the neighborhood. There is a better life out there, if you want it.

[Gabrielle]

Karma wrote:

<quoted text>
Gabrielle, maybe you should consider changing your name to Self-Righteous.
How dare you sit there and criticize this girl. She just lost a friend and in spite of that, is thinking of others. She's trying to tell kids to stay away from gangs. It's nice to know that you made it out of that neighborhood (or should I say ran out) but this isn't about you.
Did you ever stop to think that the Code of Silence you speak of is keeping people alive in these neighborhoods? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that people shouldn't come forward if they saw something, because they should.

Karma,

I did read that Baby Gurl wrote that she hoped that kids would read the article to stay out of gangs. That is all well and good. My point is that it was rough for all the kids who grew up in that neighborhood (and immediate area). Kids were often assaulted and/or murdered if they join a gang.

I consider myself fortunate to get out of the neighborhood. Some may think that I ran out of there, and I won't argue that I wanted to get out of there as fast as humanly possible. I didn't run out. I chase a dream I had since I was a kid wearing my relatives' hand-me-downs. Chasing the dream take effort and time.

I would rather be viewed as a example of what's possible outside of the neighborhood, so others may be able to break the circle of violence.

[Dan-Chicago]

Very sad for this young lad, but articles like this usually always state that the kid was great, straight A's, and then they show his 8th grade graduation picture on the news. Most of the time this is not mistaken identity but the boy was usually a gang member or hanging with them. Sad still though, maybe Little Village should look at their gang issue and start addressing it to give the innocent kids a chance.....