A former Chicago High School basketball standout was shot and killed in suburban Los Angeles Thursday, his family confirmed to NBC affiliate KNBC.
Saieed Ivey, 20, played basketball for Simeon Career Academy in the Chatham neighborhood.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, officials responded to a call of shots fired at 7:50 a.m. PST Thursday. Officers arrived at 800 block of west El Repetto Drive in Monterey Park to find a light colored Mercedes-Benz with the lights on, police said.
Officers said in a release that there was an unresponsive man in the backseat, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Witnesses told detectives the victim was with a group of friends at a gathering," according to the release. "They said the victim walked away from the group, and a short time later shots were heard."
Authorities did not release his identity, but family members confirmed that the victim was Ivey, who was celebrating his birthday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times reported that when contacted by a reporter, mother Chareda Carter was able to say just three words. "An amazing soul."
Ivey played basketball at East Los Angeles Junior College, where he is listed as a freshman guard on the team roster. He previously played at Governor's State University in the south suburbs of Chicago. The university released a statement Thursday evening.
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"We are saddened to hear of the death of Saieed Ivey, a former student and athlete at Governors State University," a post on the university's Facebook page reads. "At this time, we are unaware of the details surrounding his passing, but we mourn his loss, and our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to his friends and family. Saieed was well-loved in the GSU community."
Simeon Academy did not respond to requests for comment.
No suspects are in custody and the investigation is ongoing, police said.
