Damond Dawson, a 23-year-old African American male, was fatally shot on April 19, 2016, in Foster Park on Chicago's South Side. Dawson was with his brother and other relatives and friends, rapping and shooting a video when two gunmen opened fire early that morning. The shooting occurred around 2:20 a.m. while the group was "rapping around selfies with their phones" at Foster Park, located at 1440 W. 84th St.
Dawson was shot once in the back of the head and collapsed in the middle of the park, between a building and a playground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident also resulted in injuries to four other individuals. A 19-year-old woman was shot twice in the groin area and was taken in serious condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center. Three other men, aged 20, 25, and 18, sustained various injuries and took themselves to the same hospital. Their conditions were stabilized. The men are all related, with Dawson's brother among the injured.
The shooting was described as an ambush, with one gunman approaching from the west of the park and the other from the south. Dawson's aunt, Angela Mathis-Tate, mentioned that the family had warned him about the dangers of being in that park. The group was filming a music video for a song called "Two Techs and a 50 Shot," which refers to guns. The video and camera were turned over to the police as evidence.
Despite the severity of the incident, no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing. Area South investigators suggested that the shooting might be gang-related, but no specific motive has been identified. Dawson's grief-stricken relatives visited the scene, hoping for answers as officers set up crime tape, searched for shell casings, and spoke with witnesses.
