Mychal Moultry Jr., a 4-year-old African American boy, tragically lost his life on September 3, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. Mychal was visiting Chicago from Decatur, Alabama, with his mother, Angela Gregg, to celebrate Labor Day weekend. On the evening of September 3, while Mychal was getting his hair braided in a Woodlawn apartment, bullets shattered the large picture windows of the apartment and struck him in the head.
Despite being rushed to Comer Children’s Hospital, Mychal succumbed to his injuries two days later, on September 5, 2021.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. in the 6500 block of South Ellis Avenue. Mychal was sitting in a barber chair when the shots were fired. His mother, who was not present at the time, later described her son as a gifted child who loved trips to the beach and the movie "Cars." The shooting left the community in shock and prompted a plea from Mychal's parents for anyone with information to come forward. Despite the efforts of the Chicago Police Department, no suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with the shooting.
The investigation into Mychal's death has been challenging due to a lack of cooperation from potential witnesses. Police have canvassed the area and appealed to the public for assistance, but many residents have been reluctant to provide information. Mychal's family has held press conferences and distributed flyers in the neighborhood, urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to speak up. The Cook County Crime Stoppers has offered a reward for information leading to an arrest, but as of now, the case remains unsolved.
Mychal's death is a stark reminder of the pervasive gun violence affecting Chicago's neighborhoods, particularly those of color. Police Superintendent David O. Brown highlighted that shootings involving children often occur when they are innocent bystanders. The community continues to grapple with the loss of such a young life, and Mychal's family remains hopeful that justice will eventually be served.
