Tyquan Tyler, a 13-year-old African American boy, was tragically killed on June 24, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois. Tyquan was attending a party with his 19-year-old sister in the 6200 block of South Rhodes Avenue when a fight broke out around 1:20 a.m. As Tyquan and his sister attempted to leave the scene, he was struck by a bullet fired from a passing vehicle. The bullet hit Tyquan in the chest, and he collapsed on the sidewalk. Despite efforts to save him, Tyquan was pronounced dead at 3:05 a.m.
at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. An autopsy confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to the chest, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation into Tyquan's death led to the arrest of Nasean Flowers, a 23-year-old admitted gang member. Flowers was charged with murder in February 2013. According to court records, Flowers had been involved in a fight with members of another gang when he and another attacker entered an alley where Tyquan and others were standing. Flowers fired two shots towards the group, hitting Tyquan. Witnesses reported seeing Flowers running from the alley with the gun still in his hand. Flowers was later convicted of Tyquan's murder and sentenced to 55 years in prison by Cook County Judge Stanley J. Sacks.
A co-defendant, Dewayne Chester, testified against Flowers during the trial and pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Chester was sentenced to seven years in prison. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gang violence in Chicago and the tragic impact it has on innocent lives. Tyquan's mother, Sandra Tyler, had sent him to live with a relative in East Moline to escape the violence in their neighborhood. However, Tyquan had returned to Chicago for a summer visit and was only home for two weeks before the fatal shooting. Sandra Tyler expressed deep regret for allowing her son to attend the party, where he ultimately lost his life.
