Urban Prep Student Killed in Back of the Yards Shooting

A 17-year-old Urban Prep student was killed and a 19-year-old man wounded in a shooting late Saturday in the South Side Back of the Yards neighborhood.

They were standing in the street about 10:20 p.m. in the 5200 block of South Sangamon when a silver Audi pulled up and someone inside fired shots, according to Chicago Police.

Christopher Fields, 17, was shot in the back and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 11:17 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He lived in the 6200 block of South Sangamon.

The older teen was taken to the same hospital with an arm wound. His condition stabilized, police said.

Christopher was a sophomore at the Urban Prep Englewood Campus, according to a statement from the school’s CEO Tim King.

“Mr. Fields was not the intended target, but rather was the victim of a senseless act of violence,” according to the statement.

King said a suspect in the shooting was arrested, but police could not confirm that Monday morning.

“Undoubtedly, Mr. Fields thought that by walking on his street, steps from his home, he was being safe–and he should’ve been,” King said.

“Mr. Fields will be deeply missed.”

Donations to support Fields’ family can be made here by entering “Christopher Fields” in the “In Memory of” section.