A student planning to study at Northwestern University this fall to become a doctor, and was shot and killed by a stray bullet Monday, has been identified.
The family of Shane Colombo, 25, says the doctoral student had only been in Chicago for a few hours when he became one of Chicago's latest victims of gun violence.
The fatal shooting happened at about 8:30 p.m. Chicago police say Colombo was walking near Howard and Clark streets in the Rogers Park neighborhood when a stray bullet struck him in the abdomen. Colombo later died at the hospital from his injuries.
“Our hearts and minds are with Shane’s loved ones during this difficult time,” Teresa K. Woodruff, dean of The Graduate School, and Adrian Randolph, dean of Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern, wrote in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to Shane’s partner, Vincent, and all of his family members and friends.”
He had just moved to Chicago from New York where he had been working as a researcher at Columbia University.
Colombo's mother and partner talked about the impact he had on so many people.
"He would have made such a difference in this world," his tearful mother said.
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His family said he survived cancer as a teen. Last December, Colombo and his partner got engaged. The couple planned to celebrate that engagement later this year.
Chicago police say Area North detectives have been investigating the shooting, but so far no one has been taken into custody.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses.
