On Friday, June 21, 2024, a tragic shooting occurred in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago, resulting in the death of 16-year-old Benicio Gomez. The incident took place near the intersection of North Rockwell Street and West Hollywood Avenue in the Budlong Woods area. Gomez and two other 16-year-old boys were shot while they were entering a vehicle around 6:57 p.m..
Gomez, a student at Amundsen High School, was struck in the back by gunfire and was taken to St.
Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The other two teens were also injured; one was shot in the shoulder and taken to St. Francis Hospital in serious condition, while the third was shot in the knee and taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition.
The shooting is believed to have been carried out by a person in a black SUV, which fled the scene immediately after the incident. As of the current date, no one is in custody, and the investigation by Area Three detectives is ongoing.
The community has been deeply affected by Gomez's death, with Principal Kristi Eiler of Amundsen High School describing him as a "valued member of the school community" who will be "deeply missed by everyone who knew him." Counselors were made available to support students at the school following the incident. A GoFundMe fundraiser was also set up to help cover expenses for Gomez’s funeral and had raised over $16,000 of its $20,000 goal shortly after his death.
Local residents expressed their shock and grief over the incident, with some calling for increased community support and the installation of safety measures such as license plate readers and speed bumps in the neighborhood to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Gomez is survived by his parents, Luis and Guadalupe Gomez, and his sister, Elizabeth Gomez. His death has left a profound impact on the community, highlighting the ongoing issue of gun violence in Chicago.
