A family is demanding answers after a 16-year-old Woodlawn High School student was found shot to death inside a residence in the Chatham neighborhood over the weekend.
Chicago police officers discovered the victim upstairs in a bedroom with a fatal gunshot wound to the head early Sunday morning.
Authorities identified the teenager as Stephon Jacobs, a local high school student whose life was cut short by the late-night violence.
The fatal incident occurred just after 1:30 a.m. on Sunday during what relatives described as an unsupervised teen party.
Family members gathered on Tuesday afternoon directly outside the home near the intersection of 77th Street and Rhodes Avenue to mourn the loss.
Attendees released balloons into the sky to honor the young victim while standing on the sidewalk where the tragedy occurred.
“We definitely need justice because it was a lot of kids in this house that day,” said Joycelyn Fikes, the aunt of the victim.
Family members stated that they believe another teenager at the party was handling a firearm when it discharged.
“I guess one of the little boys was in the house playing with the gun, and the gun went off,” Fikes added.
The sudden loss has deeply impacted the immediate family, leaving them to grapple with the reality of the situation.
“It’s just so crazy to me that that had happened, and we should’ve had more time to spend with each other,” said Sumeyre Jacobs, the victim’s 14-year-old brother.
Other relatives expressed regret over not knowing the teenager’s location on the night of the party.
“I wish that we knew that he was here because I would’ve personally came and got him,” said Veronica Harris, another aunt of the victim.
Harris pointed to a larger systemic issue regarding the availability of weapons among local youth.
“Guns are in the hands of these teenagers, and it’s taking our kids away from us,” Harris stated.
The residential area near 77th and Rhodes features a mix of multi-family brick properties and single-family homes typical of the Chatham neighborhood.
Local media outlets reached out to the landlord of the property for comment regarding the event, but those messages were not returned.
Neighbors living along Rhodes Avenue expressed growing concerns regarding safety and the lack of supervision at temporary event rentals or unmonitored gatherings in the area.
Chicago community advocates recommend that parents establish strict check-in protocols and verify the presence of adult supervision before allowing minors to attend weekend gatherings.
Local safety groups also emphasize that gun owners must utilize secure lockboxes and trigger locks to prevent unauthorized teenagers from accessing firearms.
Chicago Police Department officials have not released details regarding how many times officers have been called to this specific address in the past.
Investigators have also declined to confirm if any suspects have been taken into custody or questioned regarding the discharge of the weapon.
Area Detectives are actively interviewing attendees who were present inside the home at the time of the shooting.
The official police report classifies the incident as an open homicide investigation with no updates available at this time.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the individuals present at the party to contact the Chicago Police Department or submit an anonymous tip online.
