Antwone J. Price, an 11-year-old African American boy, tragically lost his life on September 2, 2015, in Chicago, IL. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. in a home located in the 7400 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue. Antwone was shot in the abdomen by his 19-year-old uncle, Eurel Wilford, who was handling a gun at the time. The shooting was deemed accidental, and Antwone was quickly transported to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
An autopsy confirmed that his death was a homicide.
Eurel Wilford was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and one count of involuntary manslaughter. He was found with two guns, a semi-automatic handgun and a loaded pistol, neither of which he had a concealed carry permit or a Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card for. Wilford was held in lieu of $100,000 bail. The incident took place on one of the deadliest days in Chicago since 2003, with at least nine people killed and 12 others wounded in shootings throughout the city.
Antwone's death was part of a tragic pattern of gun violence that had already deeply affected his family. His father, Antwone Price Sr., was a music promoter and clerk at the Daley Center who was found dead in a car in May 2013. Antwone Sr.'s father had also been a victim of gun violence, having been shot and killed in 2000. Despite his young age, Antwone was described as a mature and focused child who had aspirations of owning a funeral home. He was a sixth grader at Comer College Prep Middle School and had already planned his great-aunt’s funeral the previous year.
The case highlighted the pervasive issue of gun violence in Chicago and the devastating impact it has on families and communities. The investigation into Antwone's death revealed the dangers of unsecured firearms and the tragic consequences of their misuse. The legal proceedings against Eurel Wilford underscored the importance of responsible gun ownership and the need for stricter enforcement of firearm regulations.
