His mother, Demetria Hudson (left), and his aunt, Shantesia Hudson, say Ronald Clarke was not a member of a gang, though some of his longtime friends were. | photo provided
By TIFFANY MITCHELL
Homicide Watch Chicago
When Ronald Jerome Clarke was fatally shot last month in the Back of the Yards, police said he was affiliated with a gang. Definitely not the case, according to his family.
“He was never a part of a gang because his parents and grandparents would not allow it,” his mother, Demetria Hudson, said. “He never sold drugs or indulged in any type of violence.”
According to his mother, “Ronald may have affiliated with gang members because they were his childhood friends, but he was not a gang member. These were Ronald’s childhood friends who killed him.
“Ronald was not a criminal; he was a hard worker who accomplished many things in life; he was just an all-around amazing man to know."
Friends and family attend the funeral of Ronald Jerome Clarke on Jan. 15 at Saint Basil Visitation Parish. | photo provided
His mom should know. “He was a mama’s boy and we talked about everything from girls to basketball, he was just an all-around beautiful person.”
Shantesia Hudson, Clarke's aunt, was devastated when informed of his untimely death.
“The young man that killed my nephew put a hole in our hearts that cannot be replaced,” she said. “His so-called childhood friends left my nephew in that apartment to die, but one of them called the police after they fled the scene.”
Clarke was at a friend’s apartment with several other friends the night he was shot. It happened in the 2000 block of West 52nd Place about 8:21 p.m. Jan. 5.
Ronald Jerome Clarke's high school graduation photo.
The 23-year-old and another person got into a fight, and Clarke was shot in the face, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiners office. He was taken to Stroger Hospital where he died about an hour later.
Clarke was the youngest of three sons who enjoyed many sports, including baseball, football and basketball, according to his mom. He also leaves behind an 11-month-old daughter "who will never get to know her father.”
Over 500 people attended his funeral, including elementary teachers, because "many loved him,” Demetria Hudson said.
A 2011 graduate of John Hancock High School, he later attended East West University and majored in Business Management. He was most recently working as a security officer at the Erikson Institute downtown.
“Ronald was also a part of the 100 Black Men program, where he mentored youth about bettering themselves,” his mom said. “Some of them went on to be college graduates.”
It's been tough for his family since that fatal night.
“I am sad most days because before he died I felt him hug me as if he were already gone,” Demetria Hudson said. “It just doesn’t seem real that someone would take his life; my son never caused any problems or harmed anyone.”
Ronald Jerome Clarke holds his daughter, Jayla Clarke. | photo provided
Shantesia Hudson is furious that no one will tell the police who shot and killed her nephew. As of Thursday, no one was in custody for the shooting.
“I do not understand why nobody will talk,” she said. “I keep thinking, 'Why would someone want to kill Ronald?' My nephew was the sweetest kid and he would do anything for you without hesitation. My ride to the funeral was one of the longest rides of my life.”
She said her nephew was just trying to better himself.
“Living in an impoverished neighborhood does not mean you have to be a product of your environment. It is not about where you come from, but where you end up at.”