The shooting happened at about 3:16 p.m. in the South Austin neighborhood's 5100-block of West Harrison Street near Michele Clark Magnet High School, police said. A 15-year-old student was near the sidewalk in front of the school when he was shot, just after school let out for the day. The medical examiner later identified him as Kevin Davis.
Davis, shot multiple times in the body, was transported in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Police said they are still in the preliminary stages of investigating and were not able to offer any details or circumstances of what may have led up to this shooting.
According to the most recent data, as of December 5th, 364 juveniles in Chicago have shot in 2022. That's a decrease of 9.9% for this time last year when 404 juveniles were shot.
However, the number of juveniles killed in shootings increased to 54 juveniles killed so far this year. That's up from 49 juveniles killed in 2021.
Chicago Police Cmdr. Andre Parham called what happened heartbreaking and mind-numbing.
WATCH: Chicago police speak after deadly West Side shooting
Chicago police speak after teen shot, killed near high school
"I've been on this job 26 years, and it doesn't get any easier, and you hate to see anything happen to children, the children in our community," Parham said. "Something like this happening in this city, in any city, to a child going to a school is completely unacceptable."
Both police and Chicago Public Schools vowed justice and support for the teen's family and all impacted by his tragic death.
"Our goal tomorrow is to make sure that we have the necessary supports to support all of our students and staff and families at the school," CPS Chief of Safety and Security Jadine Chou said Tuesday.
Chou said there would be support from school, community and police, including grief counselors and added security measures.
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"It's not easy. It's something we hope we never have to deal with," Chou said. "Our deepest condolences to Kevin's family and the school community."
Chicago police also pleaded with the public to report any information anyone may have. So far, no one is in custody.
"We're combing through everything. We're going through any type of video, any type of statements, were looking for witnesses," Parham said. "There will be no stone left unturned in this investigation. ... If you harm one of our children in this city, then we are going to find you and we are going prosecute you."
This shooting is the second outside this South Austin high school in a matter of months. Police said in August, three teenagers were also shot nearby.
"We definitely wanted to show a presence this morning, and we definitely wanted to support the school and the community, and I just want to say Michelle Clark has been one of the guiding lights of the West Side of the city of Chicago," Parham said Wednesday.
Students were voicing their grief Wednesday, as well.
"It's sad that students can't really come to school and leave and come home, you know what I'm saying. It's really sad," Samare Hughes said.
"I would like to say that it's really sad that it's a normal occurrence in our neighborhood in neighborhoods like Austin," Destiny Freeman said. "It hurts my heart because we always have to have some type of police officer in our lives, and it's not in a good way, so it's always the sign of somebody got hurt today or some mother lost their child."
"Even though they come to support us and stuff like that, like when I come to school, I come here to learn and hang out with my friends and stuff like that. I shouldn't see police cars everywhere every day," Kiah Shields said.
Davis' mother was also at the school Wednesday morning.
She said she wanted to come to speak to school officials, and she has some questions she wants answered, as she grieves the loss of her son. She left the meeting without comment.
Meanwhile, as a community and a neighborhood remains on edge, authorities are asking for the public's help to bring a killer to justice.
"I just wanted to say out to the community please if you guys have seen anything, if you guys know anything, if you guys have any video please reach out to the Chicago Police Department," Parham said.
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