Police are investigating after a man was found dead in the basement of his family's apartment in north suburban Evanston on Friday.
According to the Evanston Police Department, a man was found dead in the basement of a multi-unit building in the 1200 block of Harvard Terrace Friday at 5:35 p.m. Authorities confirmed Saturday that the victim, who was found with a gunshot wound to the head, was identified as 19-year-old Star Paramore.
Police, along with the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force, are conducting a death investigation.
Janet McEwan told NBC 5 that Paramore was her son, and police informed her Friday night that he was killed and found in their basement laundry room.
McEwan said he was a good kid, and she doesn't know who would want to hurt him. McEwan said she last saw her son on Wednesday, and he told her days ago he felt scared and wanted to move to California.
"He says, 'Mom, I don't want to stay here no more,'" McEwan said. "I said, 'What's up, Star?' He says 'I don't know, this place is just becoming too violent.'"
McEwan said her religion is helping her through the ordeal, and her son prided himself on his faith as well.
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"He prays. He's a praying kid," McEwan said. "That's the kind of kid I have and that's the kind of home I have. That's what's keeping me alive and keeping me strong that I can even stand up here and talk to you."
Neighbor Joanne St. Felix said the area is a safe neighborhood, and usually quiet.
"That's shocking because I've lived around here for eight years. That's shocking to me," St. Felix said. "I just know that recently [there have] been police officers going in and out but I don't know why."
Another neighbor out walking her dog Saturday morning said she's "not concerned," and still believes Evanston is safe.
Overall crime in Evanston decreased by five percent from 2014 to 2015, except for murders. There were three murders in Evanston last year, compared to just one in 2014.
The Cook County Medical Examiner could not immediately confirm the death, and authorities continue to investigate.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Evanston Police Department at (847) 866-5000 or use Text-A-Tip anonymously by texting the information to CRIMES (274637) and entering EPDTIP in the message line with the tip information.
