On June 7, 2017, Jacques Mack, a 15-year-old African American male, was tragically killed in a shooting in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago. Jacques and his 16-year-old friend, Corey Hill Jr., were standing on the sidewalk in the 1200 block of South Lawndale at approximately 9:06 a.m. when a masked suspect armed with a rifle exited a silver vehicle and opened fire. The gunman fired multiple rounds, striking both teenagers several times.
After the shooting, the suspect got back into the vehicle and fled the scene. Both Jacques and Corey were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The incident left the community in shock and mourning. Jacques Mack, who lived in East Garfield Park, and Corey Hill Jr., known to friends as Montana Garcia, were described as best friends. The motive behind the shooting was not immediately clear, and no arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Witnesses reported that the gunman stood over the victims and continued to fire shots as they lay on the ground, a detail that highlighted the brutality of the attack.
The investigation into the deaths of Jacques Mack and Corey Hill Jr. faced significant challenges. Despite efforts by the Chicago Police Department to gather evidence and identify suspects, the case remained unsolved for some time. Community activists and residents expressed their frustration and sorrow over the loss of young lives to gun violence. The lack of immediate arrests and the ongoing violence in the neighborhood underscored the broader issues of safety and justice in the community.
In the years following the shooting, there were no significant updates on arrests or prosecutions related to the deaths of Jacques Mack and Corey Hill Jr. The case remains a poignant reminder of the impact of gun violence on families and communities in Chicago. The memory of Jacques Mack, a young African American boy with his whole life ahead of him, continues to be honored by those who knew him and by the community that mourns his loss.
