shooting

14-Year-Old Boy Shot to Death in Chicago After Visit to Barber Shop

A 14-year-old boy was shot to death Saturday night a few blocks from his home in the Southwest Side Gage Park neighborhood shortly after a visit to a barbershop.

Around 9:30 p.m., the boy was walking with a group of people in the 2200 block of West 59th Street when shots were fired around them, Chicago police said.

When police arrived on the scene, they found the boy alone on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his back. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The boy was identified as J'Quantae Riles. His mother, Franika Marshall, told NBC Chicago she helped J'Quantae with his homework and walked him to the barbershop.

Marshall said she left J'Quantae at the baber's to walk his 7-year-old sister home. She had just laid down to rest when someone came to her door and reported J'Quantae had been shot and killed a few blocks from their home.

"I just want whoever knows something to care enough to speak up," Marshall said. "Man, if you know something, even though it isn't going to bring my son back, just tell what you know, please."

J'Quantae, whom his mother described as a friend to everyone, was an eighth-grade student at Henderson Elementary School. Marshall, who is also pregnant with twins, said the family moved from Chicago to Virginia to escape the violence. The family had just moved back to Chicago 10 days ago.

"We are losing our kids out here," Marshall said. "It's so sad, it's so sad. I've lost my son. I tried to run. Oh God, please, hold your kids. Man, you all got to hold them."

Just a few months ago, Marshall starred in an anti-gun violence music video where she pleaded with people to "put the guns down." J'Quantae also made an appearance in the video holding an anti-gun sign behind his mother.

No one is in custody for the shooting, and Area Central detectives continue to investigate.

A vigil for J'Quantae was set for 6:30 p.m. CST Sunday, according to community activist Andrew Holmes.

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