Donoven Hawkins, a 16-year-old boy, was tragically shot and killed in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on August 19, 2019. He was found with a gunshot wound to the neck in the 2500 block of West 63rd Street. The incident occurred around 10:55 p.m. when police officers were flagged down by a person who discovered Hawkins lying unresponsive on the sidewalk.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office pronounced him dead at the scene, and an autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
Hawkins' death has left a significant impact on the community, as he was a young African American male with his whole life ahead of him. The police investigation revealed fresh graffiti on a wall near the scene of the shooting, which they are examining as part of the ongoing homicide investigation. Despite the efforts of Area Central detectives, there were no witnesses to the shooting, and no suspects were in custody as of the following morning.
The lack of witnesses and immediate leads has made the investigation challenging. The community and law enforcement continue to seek justice for Donoven Hawkins, hoping to find those responsible for his untimely death. The case remains open, and detectives are urging anyone with information to come forward to help solve this tragic crime.
