On July 8, 2017, 17-year-old Angelique Morris, a female resident of unincorporated Glenview, Illinois, and a senior at Glenbrook South High School, died due to a gunshot wound to the head. The incident occurred in a basement apartment unit at the Heritage Village Pointe Apartments in the 9900 block of Linda Lane in unincorporated Des Plaines.
The circumstances of her death involved her 17-year-old boyfriend, who was handling a gun in his apartment. According to police reports, the boyfriend was checking the gun to ensure it was functioning properly when it discharged, firing a bullet that fatally injured Angelique in the head. She was rushed to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she was pronounced dead at 4:00 a.m.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office ruled her death a homicide following an autopsy that confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head. The boyfriend, whose name was not released because he was charged as a juvenile, was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter.
The boyfriend claimed the shooting was accidental, stating that he had been handling the gun when it went off. However, prosecutors and Angelique's family questioned the accidental nature of the shooting, noting that the gun could not discharge without the clip being in place, suggesting intentional actions were involved.
Angelique's family expressed significant grief and frustration over the incident, particularly because the boyfriend was not being tried as an adult. They also pushed for the charges to be upgraded from involuntary manslaughter, arguing that the boyfriend's actions were not merely a mistake. The family highlighted that Angelique was a dedicated and caring student who was looking forward to graduating in January 2018 to pursue a career in early childhood education.
The case drew attention due to the boyfriend's background; he was an honor roll student and a member of his high school football team, but he was also a suspect in another shooting. Despite these factors, he remained in custody awaiting further court appearances.
The community and school responded with tributes and support, including a GoFundMe page set up to help the family with funeral expenses, which raised over $9,000. Principal Lauren Fagel of Glenbrook South High School described Angelique as "a sweet, caring, and determined young woman" in a letter to parents, reflecting on her positive impact and future aspirations.
