The family of 25-year-old Kevin O'Malley, who was gunned down two weeks ago in Chicago's very popular Lakeview neighborhood during a robbery attempt, spoke out for the first time about how gun violence has shattered their lives.
"It has a profound impact on everyone. It's not just a statistic like I think most people think it is," his father, Brian O'Malley said.
Kevin O'Malley grew up in suburban Palos Park and moved to Lakeview -- the "hot" area where thousands of young professionals gravitate -- after graduating from the University of Iowa. Lakeview is a neighborhood known for its restaurants and night life, not for violent crime. Lakeview had not seen a murder in three years, and O'Malley's death has shaken many, including the more than 1,000 people who attended his wake and funeral.
He was a young man with priorities -- his family, his friends, his work -- and all things Chicago. His mother Sharon O'Malley said
"Kevin was like living the dream, he had gotten his degree, gotten his CPA, had a good job," his mother, Sharon O'Malley, explained.
"He was the type of person, once you were his friend, you were his friend for life," added his father.
Both parents, sister Erin, brothers Michael and twin brother Brian, as well as his girlfriend, Michelle Rinck, continue to grapple with what happened. Police said it was 2 a.m. the morning of May 30 near Sheffield and Oakdale that O'Malley was robbed of his wallet and phone. When he demanded them back, he was shot twice in the chest. It happened near the Chicago Transit Authority's Wellington stop on the Brown Line.
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Surveillance video showed the suspect, Kristopher Pitts, had scaled a building nearby. Police climbed it as well and Pitts was arrested shortly after. Investigator said Pitts had O'Malley's cellphone in his pocket and only one shoe on. The other shoe was left at the scene, police said. Three witnesses identified Pitts, and he is now charged with first degree murder. Pitts was out on bond after waving a machete and threatening police last year.
The O'Malley family is grateful a suspect has been arrested, and his father thanked the Chicago Police Department for being "very compassionate and understanding."
"For me, personally, I can't be outraged yet," said O'Malley's sister, Erin Carlson. "Right now, I just need to grieve my brother and his loss, and what that means for my family and I."
The O'Malley's never imagined gun violence would rip through their family.
"The murder, and that's the only way I can state this, besides taking Kevin's life, what he did affect all of us. He took part of us with him," said Brian O'Malley of the suspect.
Kevin was known for his big smile and willingness help others. After earning his accounting degree at the University of Iowa, he passed the CPA exam on the first try, tutored others studying for the test, and was working in River North. Even the doorman at the building where he worked expressed sadness, noting Kevin's friendly manner each day. His family describes him as a Blackhawks, Bears, Sox, Bulls fan -- enjoying all sports. He was a longtime volleyball player, from his days at Stagg High School to club volleyball at Iowa. Kevin also participated in the volleyball leagues at North Avenue Beach.
As a twin, he and his brother Brian often leaned on one another. Sharon O'Malley describes when they were babies
"Right from the beginning, they had this close relationship. No matter where you put them, they always found a way together," said Sharon O'Malley.
Their father said the boys developed their own language.
"It took them until like four years old before I understood them," said Brian O'Malley. "They were really good guys."
Chicago has already seen more than 1,000 shootings this year. By the end of May, 161 people were killed by gun shots.
Kevin O'Malley died on his girlfriend's 25th birthday. They had been friends since attending Stagg High School together. He had "countless friends," according to his siblings, and more than 1,000 people attended the wake at Our Lady of the Woods Church in Palos. His family stood for seven hours greeting all of Kevin's friends, co-workers and former classmates. The next day at his funeral mass there wasn't an open seat.
That has given his family a lot of comfort, his father said.
"We're handling it the way Kevin wants us to handle it; a strong family unit with dignity," said Brian O'Malley.
His mother Sharon said "Kevin was so generous with his time. His energy was pure. Everyone just loved to be around him. If Kevin was around it was a better day."
Sharon O'Malley said she hopes that perhaps something positive can come from her loss.
"Perhaps all of us can make a choice, to live a better version of ourselves, to be more generous of our time, give more smiles, have more kindness -- I know everyday I'm going to ask myself what would Kevin do," she said.
The family has asked if anyone would like to make a contribution in Kevin's name to send it to Lurie's Children's Hospital. A year ago, Kevin's nephew, Sean, was just one year old when he successfully underwent surgery for a brain tumor. The first person to greet his sister in the emergency room the day of Sean's diagnosis was Kevin. The O'Malley family wants those contributions in Kevin's name to pay it forward to others facing a family crisis.
