Vigil Held for Teen Who Died from Gunshot Wounds After Fistfight Broke Out

Tyler Ellis, 15, who was shot six times after a fight broke out, has died 10 days after the incident

It started as a fist fight, but it was settled with a gun.

Ten days after Tyler Ellis was shot in the head in Altgeld Gardens, the 15-year-old died Friday night.

Chicago’s latest teenage victim of gun violence lived with his mother in the Far South Side housing project, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

“I don’t even know how to feel,” his mom Yolanda Hurt said. “I don’t have a heart right now because I’m heartbroken. I really want justice for what happened my baby.”

Tyler was shot in a residential courtyard Dec. 16 just before 8 p.m. in the 600 block of East 133rd Street, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Someone approached him and fired several shots, striking him multiple times, police said. It wasn’t known how the shooter fled.

Tyler lived in the 700 block of East 131st Street, the medical examiner’s office said.

He had been at a friend’s house and was on his way home when the brother of a boy that had fought Tyler earlier came back with a gun, Hurt told the Sun-Times.

After the initial rounds of fire knocked Tyler down, the shooter “stood over him and finished shooting,” Hurt said. Her son was shot six times.

Hurt said she doesn’t know what the earlier fist fight was about, but she said her son wasn’t in a gang.

He was a 9th grader at Larry Hawkins, a Chicago International Charter School, and he played drums at church, boxed, skateboarded and loved technology.

For Christmas, Hurt bought her son electronics, including a laptop, speakers and video games.

"He’s not even here to open it,” she said.

Tyler, who went by the nickname “Silk,” was known at school for his hair, which he dyed a rich bronze and styled in twists.

Hurt said she wants witnesses to call the police.

The family is also asking for financial help to bury the teen. A cousin, 24th Ward Republican Committeeman Larry G. Nelson, said anyone seeking to help can call him at 773-458-9512.

A vigil was planned for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at 133rd and Langley.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
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