Shamari K. Smith, a 27-year-old African American male, was tragically killed in a shooting incident on July 13, 2020, in the Park Manor neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred around 1:45 a.m. when Shamari was on the street in the 6700 block of South Rhodes Avenue. According to authorities, someone fired shots from a vehicle, striking Shamari in the head.
He was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center shortly after the incident.
Shamari's death was part of a particularly violent weekend in Chicago, where a total of 64 people were shot, 13 of them fatally. The violence over that weekend marked a slight decrease from the previous Fourth of July weekend, which saw 79 people shot, 15 of them fatally. Despite the high number of shootings, no arrests have been made in connection with Shamari's death, and the case remains under investigation by Area One detectives.
Shamari was a resident of the Park Manor neighborhood and had joined the Inner-City Muslim Action Network's Green Re-Entry program in November 2019 after being released from prison. He was known for his positive attitude and determination to improve his life despite the challenges he faced. Shamari is survived by his five children, one of whom is still an infant.
The community has been deeply affected by Shamari's death, and a GoFundMe campaign was organized to support his family during this difficult time. The campaign aimed to raise funds to help with funeral expenses and provide financial assistance to his children. The investigation into Shamari's murder is ongoing, and authorities continue to seek information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the individuals responsible for this tragic incident.
