After a Chicago high school student was gunned down just blocks from his home, community members have renewed calls for help in solving the case, as well as increased police patrols in their neighborhood.
Johnson Liggins, Jr., was shot and killed on Oct. 30 near the intersection of East 80th Street and South Coles Avenue in the city’s South Chicago neighborhood, authorities said.
The 17-year-old was reportedly standing outside in the middle of the afternoon when two men walked up to him and at least one opened fire.
“I was in my house and I heard a couple of shots,” witness Kimber Ashley said. “I looked out the window and saw this young man laying on the ground and I just called 911."
Liggins was struck multiple times and taken to an area hospital, where he later died. He attended Mount Carmel and Percy L. Julian High Schools and was just blocks from his home when he was killed.
Two weeks after his death, Liggins’ parents and community members said they were frustrated by the seemingly slow pace of the police investigation.
They added that they wanted to keep his death in the news in hopes that someone with information about what happened will come forward.
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“Parents can’t come outside, kids can’t come outside,” said Dexter Harris, who lives in the area, adding, “Nobody is safe in Chicago.”
Dennis Pedretti has lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years and echoed that sentiment – calling for more support from police.
“It’s an ongoing gang feud in the area and it’s been going on for years now,” Pedretti said.
“We need community intervention on this block. It’s been going on a long time,” he continued, adding that he would like to see a police camera that was mounted on the light pole at the intersection where Liggins was killed to be replaced.
“There is a lot of shooting going on around here,” Ashley said. “I don’t know why they are so gung ho about killing each other. But I just wish it would go away.”
Liggins’ parents said they were working with Father Michael Pfleger at St. Sabina Church to offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of his killers.
No one is in custody in connection with the shooting and authorities continue to investigate.
