Cordell Bass, a 16-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on August 11, 2021, in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, IL. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. in the 6000 block of South Carpenter Street. According to reports, Cordell and a 16-year-old friend were inside the family home when someone outside opened fire, with bullets penetrating the building and striking both boys.
Cordell suffered a gunshot wound to his chest and was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center at 4:26 p.m. His friend was shot in the right leg and was stabilized at the same hospital.
Cordell's mother, Dominique Atkins, recounted that she was on the second floor of their home when she heard the gunshots. She rushed downstairs to find Cordell in the hallway, holding his chest before collapsing. The shooting also endangered her three young nephews, who were outside playing at the time. Fortunately, they were not injured, as the older boys shielded the youngest one from the gunfire.
Cordell had been under house arrest since May 2021 due to an incident involving an abandoned gun found in an alley. His mother suspected that the shooter might be the same individual who had previously shot her niece's significant other at the same location months earlier. Despite these suspicions, the police had not provided any immediate information about the incident or potential suspects.
The investigation into Cordell's death was ongoing, with detectives collecting evidence from the crime scene. The tragic event was part of a broader pattern of violence affecting teenagers in Chicago, as several other teens were also shot in separate incidents around the same time.
