Newspaper Vendor Fatally Shot on South Side

Terrence Graves was selling papers and fruit when he was shot and killed Tuesday morning, police said

A man selling newspapers and fruit early Tuesday was shot and killed in Chicago's Washington Heights neighborhood, police said.

Terrence Graves, 23, had been at work for less than two hours when the shooting occurred at 5:50 a.m. at 99th and Halsted streets, police said.

Graves' family said someone approached him and shot him seven to 10 times. They told reporters the shooting may have stemmed from a confrontation with gang members Monday night. Police have not confirmed this.

His family said Graves was not a gang member and was always home by 11 a.m.

Graves sold Chicago Sun-Times papers and fruit on the same corner six days a week, family members said. Police said he was holding newspapers when he was shot, and papers were seen strewn on the corner. Twelve shell casings were also found on the ground, authorities said.

His family pleaded with police to stop the violence, noting that Graves was a great father.

"I just can't believe this happened to him," Graves's fiance, Dasha Springer, said. "Please stop the shooting, Chicago. Please, babies have no fathers. He was a real dad."

"I'm going to miss him, but he's in a better place," Graves' mother Teresa Graves said.

He is survived by his fiance and 4-year-old daughter, Tynaiah.

Authorities released no description of the shooter or shooters, saying only that they were wearing bandanas.

 

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