On October 22, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, resulting in the death of 12-year-old Damien Green. Green was found fatally shot in the 6700 block of South Lowe Avenue, just after 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evening. Police officers responded to the scene following a gunshot detection alert and discovered Green lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the head.
Damien Green was a sixth-grader at Benjamin Mays Academy in Englewood. On the day of his death, he had attended church and played basketball before heading to his great-grandmother's home, which was less than two blocks away from where he was found.
Green was rushed to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:21 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The community and local authorities were deeply affected by the incident, with CPD Deputy Chief Gilberto Calderon describing the fatal shooting as a “tragedy” and urging local residents to come forward with any information that could help in the investigation.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for community action. Alderman William Hall of the 6th Ward emphasized the need for the community to be involved in solving such tragedies, stating, "When is another kid going to get shot before we finally figure out that kids matter? We won’t have a tomorrow in Chicago until we start saving kids today.".
As of the current date, no arrests have been made in connection with Damien Green's death. The police are relying on community tips to advance the investigation and have established a hotline for anonymous tips at 833-408-0069. A reward of up to $15,000 is being offered for any information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.
The community has come together to support Green's family, with a gathering near Ryan Harris Memorial Park, which was named after an 11-year-old girl who was also a victim of violence in the area in 1998. The incident has highlighted the ongoing struggle with violence in the community and the need for collective action to prevent such tragedies.
