On the evening of May 7, 2026, Jassen Cho, a 38-year-old Korean American financial analyst, was working a side job as an Uber driver in Chicago, a gig he had taken on to save for a future he was eagerly planning with his girlfriend. As he drove his white Hyundai Tucson through the East Garfield Park neighborhood, tragedy struck in a sudden and violent manner.
A gray SUV pulled alongside his vehicle in the 200 block of North Homan Avenue, and an occupant opened fire, unleashing a barrage of bullets into Cho's car. Cho was struck in the arm, and his 18-year-old passenger, Damarion Johnson, was hit multiple times. Both men were rushed to nearby hospitals but ultimately succumbed to their injuries. Jassen Cho, described by friends and family as a vibrant and multi-talented "Renaissance man" who was the rock of his family, was pronounced dead, an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of a conflict that was not his own.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led police to believe that the shooting was a targeted attack, with Damarion Johnson, a promising high school senior and star basketball player at Christ the King Jesuit College Prep, as the likely intended victim. Johnson was a participant in Project sWish, a community organization that uses basketball as a tool to steer young people away from street violence. A few blocks from the scene of the shooting, police discovered a burned-out gray SUV that matched the description of the vehicle used by the assailants, a common tactic employed by offenders to destroy evidence. The shooter was described only as a Black male wearing a gray sweater. The senseless act of violence cut short the life of Johnson, who was on the verge of accepting a full-ride college scholarship for basketball, and that of Jassen Cho, a man who had graduated Magna Cum Laude from DePaul University with a degree in finance and was a beloved senior financial analyst nearing his ten-year anniversary with his company.
In the wake of the devastating loss, the community mourned both victims. Jassen Cho was remembered as a loving son who had dinner with his mother every Monday, a doting uncle, and a devoted partner who was excited to be moving in with his girlfriend of nearly a year. His interests were vast and varied, from powerlifting and running marathons to painting and studying quantum physics for fun. While the investigation remains active, there have been no significant breakthroughs in the case. A 17-year-old high school student was taken into custody for questioning but was later released on May 15 without any charges being filed. As of now, no other suspects have been identified or arrested, and no motive has been officially confirmed by law enforcement. In an effort to generate leads, Cook County Crime Stoppers has offered a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for the deaths of Jassen Cho and Damarion Johnson. The case remains an open and painful chapter for the families and friends of the two men, who continue to seek justice for their untimely and tragic deaths.
