“I can’t cry anymore,” said 16-year-old Devin Brown, brother of 13-year-old Darius Brown who was shot while playing basketball in a park earlier this week.
Darius was shot in the neck at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday on the 4200 block of South State Street while playing basketball at Metcalfe Park in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Police said he was the unintended target of gunfire that erupted from a passing car.
The boy was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. He died later Wednesday night.
Devin, who said he was almost always with Darius, was on his way to meet his younger brother at the basketball court when the shooting occurred. The ambulance was there by the time he arrived.
A sergeant told NBC Chicago that police have not yet found the car from which the bullet was fired. But Thursday afternoon police released an image of white car seen in the area at the time of the shooting. Family members said they’re stunned by what happened and are simply fed up with violence and gun fire in the city.
“You read about it. You hear it on the news. You pray that it stops, but when it affects home you really feel it,” said Darius’ older sister, Paris Morrison. “It’s sad because of the violence that’s going on. He was innocent,” Morrison said.
Darius would have been an 8th grader at Holy Angels Catholic School. John Berry, the school’s athletic director, said Darius is the second incoming 8th grader he’s lost in the past few years.
“It’s time for the city to have youth centers that are protected environments,” he said.
Friends and community members gathered near the scene of the shooting Thursday afternoon to decry the violence.
Above Darius’ Teammates from Robert Taylor Park embrace each other. Teammate Matthew Robinson said: “We were just with him yesterday. We want something positive from this. Darius didn’t deserve this.”
Publisher’s Announcement:
In addition to a current reward of $9000 by Chicago residents, Hip Hop Enquirer Magazine is pledging an additional $10,000.00 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of person or persons responsible for this senseless killing. Any information regarding this particular crime, contact Area 1 Detectives at 312-747-8380 Case # HT430123
Jasmine Hughs
Jasmine Hughs is a recent graduate of Rutgers University, trying to make her mark. She has many interests, curiosities and ideas. All of which can be found here on Hip Hop Enquirer Magazine. Be sure to check back daily to see what else Jasmine will be bringing to the magazine.
