Chicago police say a 16-year-old boy is now facing murder charges in Daniels' death, but they did not release the name of the 16-year-old because of his age.
The Cook County medical examiner's office on Sunday said Daniels died from a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities say he was shot Saturday while sitting in the driver's side of a vehicle.
Daniels' parents told ABC7 Chicago that he was a graduate of Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep and was a leader on the school's academic decathlon. With a 32 on the ACT standardized test, he earned a four-year partial scholarship to Northland College in Wisconsin.
The 17-year-old was also an intern at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)