Fifteen-year-old Deshawn Martin was hanging out with friends when he was shot to death Monday evening in the backyard of a home just a block from where he lived in the Washington Heights neighborhood on the Far South Side.
Deshawn Martin | Facebook
Deshawn was in the backyard of a friend's home about 7:35 p.m. in the 1000 block of West 103rd Street, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Three boys, including Deshawn and his 11-year-old brother, were preparing to go play basketball, when several shots rang out and Deshawn was struck in the chest. Sources said the shots may have come from a nearby yard.
He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was died about two hours later at 9:15 p.m., authorities said. An autopsy showed Deshawn died of a gunshot wound to the chest and ruled the death a homicide. Police initially said the boy was 13.
Family members said Deshawn was a "sweet boy" who enjoyed reading and playing basketball. He attended Marcus Garvey Elementary School.
Family and friends conducted a candlelight ceremony in memory of Deshawn Martin near where the boy was killed in Washington Heights. | Facebook
He lived just around the corner from where he was shot.
Bishop William Hudson III is pastor of the nearby Prayer & Faith Outreach Ministries, where Deshawn attended Vacation Bible School and a Safe Haven program.
Funeral services for the boy are scheduled there for Saturday.
The bishop posted on Facebook: "I am deeply saddened at the senseless murder of Deshawn Martin who was the son of my spiritual daughter Elizabeth Coats-Hausmann! Our scheduled Sixth Watch Prayer service is cancelled as we wrap our arms around Elizabeth and her family at Deshawn's Homegoing this Saturday, July 1st at 10am at Prayer & Faith Outreach Ministries, 944 W 103rd St. Please join us by keeping this mother and DeShawn's siblings, family, friends and the Washington Heights community covered in prayer!"
--Homicide Watch Chicago and Chicago Sun-Times Wire