Steven "Lil Steve" McGee, a 15-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on September 19, 2011, in the Washington Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred around 5:50 p.m. on the 6000 block of South Prairie Avenue. McGee was walking on Prairie Avenue when a man passing by on a bicycle warned him that "guys with guns" had gathered in a nearby alley.
Moments later, one or two individuals emerged from the alley and opened fire, hitting McGee in the head and upper body. He was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that evening.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was likely spurred by an internal gang conflict. The Washington Park neighborhood, along with the adjacent Woodlawn neighborhood, had been marked by gang rivalries and several recent shootings. A witness identified a 14-year-old boy as the triggerman who fired several shots at McGee. The suspect was arrested at his home, just two blocks from McGee's residence. The teen was cited in a delinquency petition in connection with the shooting.
McGee was an 8th-grade student at Ross Elementary School. The tragic incident highlighted the ongoing issue of juvenile gun violence in Chicago, which had seen a particularly high incidence of such violence that summer. The teen suspect was expected to appear before a Juvenile Court judge following his arrest. The case underscored the devastating impact of gang-related violence on young lives and the broader community.
