Teenage boy shot in head, left to die overnight before being found by police in North Lawndale, family member says

CHICAGO — A teenage boy was shot in the head Sunday evening and left to die overnight before being found by Chicago police in North Lawndale on the city’s Southwest Side, according to a man who says he’s the victim’s cousin.

Police say officers were on patrol when they found an unresponsive teenage male on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head just after 2 a.m. Monday in the 1500 block of South Kildare Avenue.

The Chicago Fire Department was called to the scene and attempted life-saving measures on the victim, but police say he was pronounced dead at the scene via Stroger Hospital.

Police have ruled the death a homicide, but they have not yet released the identity of the victim or given details on what may have led up to the fatal shooting. They also say nobody is yet in custody.

Martin Williams, who told WGN News he’s a cousin of the victim, came by the area to learn more about what happened.

According to Williams, the victim was 13 years old and was last seen hanging out with a group of friends. When the shooting happened, Williams claims all the friends ran, leaving his cousin for hours before police found him.

“We do know that this incident happened sometime (Sunday) evening, about 6 or 7,” Williams said. “And they didn’t find him until about 2 or 3 a.m.

“So he laid in a cold gangway.”

According to Williams, the victim’s family noticed he was missing and had begun looking for him.

“This is an unfortunate event,” Williams said. “His mother is hurting. His family is hurting. When does it stop?”

The shooting happened across the street from Charles Hughes Elementary School and Franklin Park, but police have not said if there were any witnesses.

Police say Area Four detectives are investigating.