A popular north suburban high school student was shot to death at an apartment complex Saturday night, and a family member believes the shooting was accidental.
Angelique “Angie” Morris, 17, was shot about 1 a.m. Saturday at the Heritage Village Pointe Apartments in unincorporated Des Plaines, authorities said.
Cook County sheriff’s police were called to the complex in the 9900 block of Linda Lane and found Morris with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the sheriff’s office.
Family and friends conducted a memorial vigil at the scene of the shooting on Sunday night.
Morris, a resident of unincorporated Glenview and a senior at Glenbrook South High School, was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she died at 4 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
In a statement sent out to Glenbrook South parents in a letter, Principal Lauren Fagel wrote: “It is with great sadness that I share this news. Angie Morris, upcoming senior, passed away early Saturday morning. Angie was a sweet, caring, and determined young woman who was looking forward to graduating in January 2018 to pursue a career in early childhood education.”
In a post on Facebook, her aunt Sheila Blaje wrote that Morris was known for the “love and kindness you shared with others … always making us laugh with your silliness … a smile that could warm our hearts.”
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In a post on a GoFundMe page set up to help the family with funeral expenses, Morris’ sister Katie Mason said she was “accidentally shot in the head, the bullet hit her on the eyebrow and went through her head,” causing her to “bleed to death.”
An autopsy Sunday found Morris died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the medical examiner’s office. Her death was ruled a homicide.
“Angie was only 17 years old and was looking forward to graduate in January and still walk down the stage with her class,” Mason wrote. “She wanted to pursue her dream in becoming a special ed teacher.”
The GoFundMe page to offset costs of a memorial service, had raised over $7,600 toward a goal of $25,000 in its first day.
No one was in custody as of Monday morning as county police continue to investigate.
Fagel said the school’s Student Services office will be open all week, through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with counselors available for students and staff.
“Our thoughts are with the Morris/Humphrey family at this most difficult time,” she wrote.
Funeral arrangements will be announced through the school when they become available, a school spokesman said.
