Eric Burgin, a 29-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on June 24, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred on the 6400 block of South Damen Avenue while Burgin was sitting on his grandmother's porch. The shooter, identified as 18-year-old Cam’Ron Howard, approached Burgin and inquired if he had any marijuana to sell.
When Burgin responded that he did not but could call someone who did, Howard pulled out a silver revolver and shot Burgin five times, stating, "You know what time it is!".
Following the shooting, Howard was quickly apprehended by gang enforcement officers. He was charged with first-degree murder and held without bail by Cook County Circuit Judge Laura M. Sullivan. The murder weapon, a silver revolver, was noted to be similar to one seen in Howard's possession on his Facebook page. Additionally, another individual present on the porch with Burgin suffered a graze wound to his lower left leg during the incident.
The case highlighted the escalating gang violence in Chicago, with Howard's actions reflecting the severe and often senseless nature of such crimes. Despite the gravity of the situation, some youths in the community expressed support for Howard, updating their social media statuses with "Free Cam" statements, indicating a troubling normalization of violence among certain groups. Howard's trial and subsequent legal proceedings were closely followed, shedding light on the broader issues of gang activity and gun violence in the city.
