On May 30, 2023, Antoine Shropshire, a 16-year-old from Joliet, Illinois, was fatally shot in the 400 block of South Joliet Street. The incident occurred outside the Warren Sharpe playground, where Antoine was playing with friends at around 8 p.m..
Antoine sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Will County Coroner’s Office.
Despite his age, his identity was confirmed by his mother, Tysha Hammond, who spoke publicly about her son's death and planned to speak at a vigil in his honor.
The community responded to Antoine's death with a prayer vigil and balloon launch held on Friday, June 2, 2023, near the site of his death. The event was attended by approximately 150 people, including Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy, Joliet Police Department Deputy Chief Carlos Matlock, and other local officials. The vigil included messages from Pastor Herb Brooks and Bishop Steven Evans and was hosted by SpeakUp, along with support from the Nonviolent Cities Project.
As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made in connection with Antoine's killing. The Joliet Police Department is still investigating the incident and encourages anyone with information to contact the Joliet Police Department Investigation Unit or Will County Crime Stoppers.
Antoine was remembered by his mother as an amazing football and basketball player and the protector of the family. A GoFundMe campaign was established by Tysha Hammond to help cover Antoine's funeral and burial expenses.
