Brian Jasso, a 15-year-old boy, was tragically shot and killed on December 17, 2017, on Chicago's Southwest Side. Brian was delivering newspapers early that Sunday morning with his stepfather, hoping to earn extra money to buy Christmas presents for his family. The two were in a Honda CRV when they were rammed by a white van near the 5100 block of West 47th Street. Moments later, a passenger in the van opened fire, shooting Brian in the head. His stepfather drove to a nearby gas station, where Brian was later pronounced dead.
Police believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity and might have been linked to ongoing gang conflicts in the area. At the time, there had been a gang-related shooting just a mile away, which led authorities to suspect that Brian and his stepfather may have been mistakenly targeted as part of a retaliation effort. The chief of the bureau of organized crime emphasized that Brian had no gang affiliations and described him as a "good kid" who was simply trying to help his family by delivering newspapers.
Brian's tragic death was part of a wave of violence that shook Chicago in 2017. The year saw nearly 600 people killed due to gun violence, highlighting the ongoing crisis faced by many communities across the city. Detectives have continued to canvas the neighborhood, searching for video footage or leads, but as of the following Monday, no arrests had been made, and the investigation was ongoing. Brian’s family and the broader community were left in mourning, calling for justice for an innocent life lost to senseless violence.
