Antoine R Coney

Antoine R. Coney, a 21-year-old Black man, was a father of two children who was known to his friends and loved ones by several nicknames, including "Boss Juan" and "Lil Juan." Those who knew him remembered his cool and commanding personality. He lived and worked on the West Side of Chicago, with ties to the Quincy Street area where he spent his time.

The late afternoon of Thursday, March 26, 2015, was the last of Antoine’s life. He was on the porch of his home in the 5200 block of West Quincy Street in the city’s South Austin neighborhood. At around 5:30 p.m., a gray vehicle drove up to the residence. According to Chicago police, a male passenger got out of the car, opened fire on Antoine, and then got back into the vehicle. The car was last seen speeding away, heading eastbound on Quincy Street. The attack was sudden and targeted. Antoine sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:26 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Chicago Police Department officers arrived to a grim scene, cordoning off the block as neighbors looked on. The investigation was handled by Area North detectives. From the outset, the case presented challenges. While the shooting happened in the early evening hours on a residential street, the assailant and the driver of the getaway vehicle were able to flee without being immediately identified or apprehended. Police had a description of the car but few other public leads.

Antoine's death was part of a violent week in Chicago, during which at least five other people were also shot and killed across the city. His murder was a stark illustration of the gun violence that plagued many Chicago communities. The Austin neighborhood on the West Side has historically been one of the areas most deeply affected by such incidents. By the time of Antoine's death, he was one of at least 81 homicide victims in Chicago in 2015.

In the years since the shooting, the investigation into Antoine Coney’s murder has grown cold. No suspects have ever been publicly identified by law enforcement, and no arrests have been made. The case officially remains an open investigation with the Chicago Police Department, but progress has stalled, leaving his family and community without justice or closure. His loved ones have been left to mourn his absence, lighting virtual candles and sharing memories of him online.

The lack of resolution means that the individuals responsible for Antoine's death have never been held accountable. The questions of who targeted him and why remain unanswered. For his two children, who are growing up without their father, and for the rest of his family and friends, the pain of his unsolved murder endures. As of March 2016, a year after his death, no one had been charged with the crime, and authorities have not released any new information to the public.