Suspect wanted in Lawndale shooting

10th CPS student killed this year
November 9, 2009 (CHICAGO) Police say a gunman in a dark-colored car pulled up to a parked car with the three young men inside near 16th and South Christiana and opened fire late Sunday in the Lawndale neighborhood.

Sherrell Williamson, 16, of the 3700-block of South Indiana, was shot and killed. A 20-year-old and an 18-year-old were also wounded and in serious but stable condition at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Police say the wounded 18-year-old actually tried to run after the shots rang out. But police found him about three blocks away, near 15th and Kedzie in the back seat of a stopped car.

Police do not have a suspect or motive for the deadly shooting.

Williamson was a tenth grader at Phillips Academy on the South Side, Chicago Public Schools officials say. He was the 10th Chicago Public School student killed this year by violence.

On Monday afternoon, friends set up a memorial near the site where Williamson was killed. They remember a friendly, ambitious kid who stayed close to his friends in the Lawndale neighborhood even after his family moved further south.

"A good person. It always happen to good people. He was too young," said Fabian William, victim's friend.

"This cat was all right, you know what I'm saying? He was just with the wrong people at the wrong time," said Anthony Edwards, victim's friend.

Williamson was in a car with two other older men last night when someone in another car described as a dark-colored sedan drove up and fired shots. Williamson was killed. The other two, an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old, were seriously injured.

"He was a loving kid. He's going to be missed. Whoever did this, I hope they get caught," said Earl Williamson, victim's father.

Distraught family members have no idea why someone would kill the 16-year-old who loved football and basketball. Police have posted flyers asking for information to help find the gunman. Neighbors say they've gotten used to violence in the neighborhood, but it is hard to deal with.

"Close to home, somebody you grew up with and watched them grow up, it hurt even more. Especially...we don't know who did it," said Andrew Branch, victim's friend.

"Maybe they were trying to get somebody else," said Anthony Johnson, victim's friend.

Police are still looking for suspects. They have no one in custody.

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