Boys shot in Gresham before memorial for slain relative
An evening dedicated to celebrating the life of a man who fell victim to gun violence two years ago Sunday turned tragic after three of his family members, including two preteen boys, were shot in Gresham.
At least four people were sitting outside a home in the 8200 block of South Ada Street — less than half a mile away from where the man, Kenshaw Youngblood, was shot on this day in 2018 — when someone opened fire from a vehicle around 4:30 p.m., according to Chicago police and a family member.
The boys, 10 and 11, were both taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition, Chicago police said. The 10-year-old was shot in the ankle and calf, while the 11-year-old was struck in the arm.
A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg and arm and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was also in good condition, police said.
The family was gathering at dusk for a candlelight vigil to celebrate the life of Youngblood, who was killed two years ago Sunday. He was 34.
Juanita Youngblood, the mother of the late Kenshaw, said she was on her way to the house when she got a call from her sister that her two nephews and another family member had been shot.
“My son was murdered two years ago today, and we were out here to celebrate my son and celebrate his life and here they come down the street,” Youngblood said. “This is my family. I’m tired of this here. That’s my father sitting on the porch, they could’ve got him. Something really needs to be done about this here. I’m tired of it.”
The boys are two of nine children who had been shot over the weekend as of late Sunday. At least 101 kids have been shot in Chicago since May 1, according to Chicago Sun-Times records.
Kennetha Conner, another close relative to Sunday’s victims, called for an end to the gun violence that has plagued the city.
“I want it to stop,” she said. “[They treat it like] it’s just another black kid, that’s what we feel like, that’s what it looks like.” Conner and Youngblood demanded justice. “When is it going to end? That’s the question,” Conner said.