Marlin Gaines, a 15-year-old African American boy, was tragically shot and killed on February 2, 2020, in the West Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred in the 5600 block of South Marshfield Avenue when three males exited a white SUV and attacked him. One of the attackers pulled out a gun and shot Marlin multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Marlin was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Marlin's death revealed that Damian “Day Day” Coleman, an Englewood man, was responsible for the shooting. At the time of the murder, Coleman was on electronic monitoring for a pending gun case. He was arrested ten days after the incident, and police found him in possession of a gun. Coleman was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of Marlin Gaines.
Marlin's grandfather expressed his disbelief and sorrow over the senseless act of violence, stating that Marlin did not deserve to be shot seven times. The community mourned the loss of a young life, and the case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in Chicago.
