Police have launched a manhunt and the community of Chicago is in utter disbelief after a 9-year-old boy was gunned down and killed after coming home from elementary school.
Fourth-grader Tyshawn Lee was still in his school uniform in a Gresham neighborhood alleyway near his grandmother's house around 4:15 p.m. Monday when he was killed by multiple rounds of bullets to the head and back.
He was dead by the time first responders arrived to the scene near the intersection of 80th Street and Damen Avenue.
Chief of Detectives Constantine "Dean" Andrews said at a Monday night press conference they don’t know if Lee was hit by stray bullets or if he was targeted, but they do know a group of people had previously been in the alley where his body was found when an argument broke out and someone started shooting.
“A 9-year-old kid? What could he have done?” One neighbor said. “There’s nothing he could have done to deserve it. It just needs to stop.”
After the murder the group fled the scene. Police officers spent the night canvassing the neighborhood and asking for surveillance footage.
Lee was a student at Scott Joplin School, where his teachers say he was a "delight" to have in class.
As news broke of the young boy’s death, the crime proved to be so unthinkable it was one even Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton could not stay quiet on.
“While in Chicago discussing the way forward, another child dies from gun violence just miles away,” Clinton wrote to more than 4 million Twitter followers Monday evening. “Devastating.”
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Lee's aunt told NBC 5 her nephew loved video games, sports and playing outside.
Anyone who may have information about the incident is urged to call (312) 747-8271.
The child's death comes after one person died and at least 28 others were injured in shootings across Chicago Halloween weekend.
