A teenage boy in Chicago has been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder over the shooting that took place on July 24. The unnamed 14-year-old allegedly killed a 17-year-old boy and wounded another in Englewood.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, Lugean Turner, 17, and a 16-year-old boy were shot around 1:15am while they were in the backyard of a home in the 6800 block of South Peoria Street.
Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said Turner sustained a gunshot wound in the chest while the 16-year-old boy was hit in the abdomen. Both were rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center where Turner was later pronounced dead.
The suspected 14-year-old boy was identified as the shooter. Police tracked the boy and arrested him about 1.5 miles away from where the teenage boys were shot. The teen was taken into custody Monday.
In a GoFundMe page for Turner, the message on the page said the boy was killed while attempting to protect his friends.
Statistics from the Chicago Police Department have recorded an increase of up to 12% in shootings in the windy city for the year 2021 compared to the same time frame in 2020. Data revealed an alarming 2,101 shootings this year, which has resulted in 234 minors being shot with 37 of them ending up dead.
On Aug. 5, 4-year old Makalah McKay became the youngest child to die from gun violence in Chicago this year. The toddler was struck in the chest in an accidental shooting inside her home and was pronounced dead at the Comer Children’s Hospital. Another child in the home had found the gun and accidentally discharged it, hitting the young girl.
In another incident over the weekend, 29-year-old officer Ella French was shot and killed while in the line of duty. The Chicago police officer was attending to her duties at a traffic stop when brothers Monty and Eric Morgan were pulled over by a fellow officer while on board an SUV because of an expired plate. The men initially followed the officer’s instructions as they handed over their keys and stepped out of the SUV.
Rest in peace, Officer Ella French. We will #NeverForget what you have done to protect the people of Chicago. We will continue on in your honor. pic.twitter.com/6t90xFdcwM
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) August 9, 2021
The situation escalated when Monty, 21, refused to set his drink and cellphone down and opened fire on the officers, killing French. He is charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted murder of two other officers, unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, and obstruction of justice.
In an update from Fox News, Morgan’s mother was arrested on Tuesday after she allegedly tried to enter her son’s hospital room and kicked a Christ Hospital Public Safety Officer in the groin, while resisting arrest as she demanded to see her son.
Morgan had been wounded during an exchange of gunfire in the fatal confrontation that killed French and left two officers wounded.
