Darius Juzang, a 24-year-old African American man, was tragically killed on October 28, 2019, in Matteson, Illinois. Officers responded to calls of gunfire at 11:09 p.m. in the 5600 block of Allemong Drive in the Woodgate subdivision. Upon arrival, they found a red van crashed into landscaping next to a home. Darius Juzang was the only occupant, found unconscious in the driver’s seat. He was taken by paramedics to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields and later transferred to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 1:53 a.m. on October 29, 2019. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide by gunshot wound to the head. The police were investigating the homicide as an isolated occurrence.
Darius Juzang had just turned 24 three days earlier. He was a skilled basketball player and planned on becoming an accountant. His death highlighted the growing violence in the south suburban area, which has become a trauma "desert," defined as an urban community more than 5 miles away from a hospital trauma center. This lack of access to immediate trauma care has been a significant issue in the area, affecting many residents.
As of now, there have been no arrests or suspects publicly identified in connection with Darius Juzang's murder. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have urged anyone with information to come forward. The community continues to mourn the loss of a young man with a promising future, and efforts are being made to address the underlying issues of violence and inadequate trauma care in the region.
