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

CHICAGO — A teenage boy was shot in the head Sunday evening and left to die overnight before being found by officers in North Lawndale on the city’s Southwest Side, according to family and multiple police sources.

Chicago police said officers on patrol found the unresponsive teenage boy on the ground with a gunshot wound to his 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 to save the boy’s life, but police said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His identity has not yet been released by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, however, family members told WGN the victim was 13 years old. Family said he had not been heard from and they informed authorities about his last known location, which was in the area where he was found.

It is not clear what time the shooting happened, sources said, because no 911 calls were made by anyone to report shots fired before the victim was discovered.

Police sources said investigators are looking into two reports of possible shots fired in the area on Sunday, including one earlier in the afternoon, and one just after 6:40 p.m., both made by officers on patrol.

The area where the shooting happened was previously covered by ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection technology. The nearest microphone used to detect gunshots was about one block away.

In February 2024, Mayor Brandon Johnson, making good on a campaign promise, canceled the city’s contract with SoundThinking, the company behind the technology. It officially went offline later that year in September, despite pushback and last-ditch efforts by some City Council members, including 24th Ward Ald. Monique Scott, to reverse the decision.

“It’s a needle in a haystack with police officers now looking for gunshots and looking for victims. I think that’s disgusting,” Scott said.

Prior to the technology being decommissioned, a group of alders voted 33-14 on an ordinance that sought to overturn the mayor’s plan to eliminate ShotSpotter in Chicago.

The technology was used to pinpoint the approximate, and oftentimes, exact location of gunfire. Supporters argued the acoustic gunshot detection system helped police respond to shootings when no one calls 911, allowing officers or medics to render aid sooner. Critics argued the technology did little to make the city safer and that it led to over-policing in predominantly minority neighborhoods.

As the city looks to find a replacement technology, some alders argue damage has already been done. Scott said there have been nearly 40 cases city-wide where victims were found and no 911 calls about a shooting were made.

“One is too many and this is the second kid in my ward; One was found on the sidewalk, and now this boy in the backyard,” said Scott. “He should be in school at this time; not in a morgue waiting for his mom to bury him, under no circumstances should this have happened.”

Police have ruled the death a homicide, but they have not shared details on what may have led up to the fatal shooting. They also said 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 last seen hanging out with a group of friends. When the shooting happened, Williams claims all the friends left, leaving his cousin for hours before police found him.

“So he laid in a cold gangway,” said Williams.

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

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

WGN has reached out to the Mayor’s office and Chicago Public Schools for a statement. We have not yet heard back.

Police said Area Four detectives are investigating.