Michael L. Fernandez, a 19-year-old male, was fatally shot on January 14, 2016, in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Fernandez, who was of Hispanic descent, was standing on the sidewalk in the 2600 block of South Harding around 6:20 p.m. when he was shot in the head. According to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office, Fernandez was meeting a friend and waiting outside her house when gunfire erupted.
It is believed that he was hit by a bullet intended for someone else.
Fernandez had recently graduated from Farragut High School, where he was a member of the ROTC. He had aspirations of studying cooking and working as a chef. His family described him as a warm, friendly young man who was loved by everyone. They held a vigil near the site where he was shot, with about 40 people in attendance, to remember him and to call for justice. His aunt, Carmen Espinoza, expressed the family's heartbreak over the loss of a young man with so much potential.
The investigation into Fernandez's death revealed that he was an unintended target of the shooting. Despite the family's efforts to seek justice, including offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, no suspects have been apprehended, and no arrests have been made in connection with his murder. The case remains unsolved, and the family continues to seek answers and justice for Michael L. Fernandez.
