Shane Colombo, a 25-year-old male, was tragically killed on September 2, 2018, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Colombo, who had recently moved to Chicago to begin a Ph.D. program in psychology at Northwestern University, was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between two men while waiting at a bus stop. He had only been in the city for a few hours when the incident occurred. Colombo was struck by a stray bullet and was pronounced dead at Ascension St.
Francis Hospital in Evanston. His death was a devastating blow to his family, friends, and the academic community that had eagerly anticipated his contributions.
The investigation into Shane Colombo's death led to the arrest of Diante Speed in August 2019. Speed was identified as one of the individuals involved in the shootout that resulted in Colombo's death. In October 2024, a jury convicted Speed of six counts of murder for his role in the incident. The court found that Speed had fired multiple shots during the altercation, one of which fatally struck Colombo. Speed was subsequently sentenced to 60 years in prison, with 35 years for the murder conviction and an additional 25 years for discharging a firearm that led to Colombo's death.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Colombo's family and friends remained vocal about their grief and the impact of his loss. His mother, Tonya Colombo, and his fiancé, Vicente Colores-Chalmers, were particularly active in advocating for gun safety and supporting organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action. The conviction and sentencing of Diante Speed provided some measure of justice for Colombo's loved ones, but the pain of his untimely death continues to resonate within the community.
