Edwin Bryant, aged 17, was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting on October 30, 2016, in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago. He died alongside his twin brother, Edward Bryant, in what was one of the deadliest weekends that Chicago had experienced in 2016. The brothers were standing outside in the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue around 3:15 a.m. when a dark-colored car approached, and multiple shots were fired.
Both were struck and succumbed to their injuries shortly after being transported to the hospital.
The deaths of Edwin and Edward were part of a larger outbreak of violence during that weekend, which saw a total of 17 fatalities and numerous other injuries across the city. This particularly violent period coincided with Chicago hosting World Series games, resulting in police resources being stretched across the city. Despite heightened security for events near Wrigley Field, other parts of Chicago, such as Old Town, faced ongoing violence. The Bryant brothers were among the youngest victims that weekend, underscoring the deep impact of gun violence on Chicago's youth.
Edwin and Edward were juniors at Marshall High School in East Garfield Park, after transferring from Lincoln Park High School earlier in their high school career. The tragic loss of these two young lives, who had aspirations and connections within the community, left a deep void among their peers and neighborhood residents. Their deaths added to the escalating toll of homicides that Chicago had been grappling with that year, as the city surpassed 600 homicides, marking a significant rise compared to previous years. The incident highlighted the challenges of community safety in a city already burdened by systemic issues of violence and resource shortages.
