On Saturday night, police say he and several other teens were walking in the parking lot of Golf Mill Mall in Niles.
Investigators say a teenager driving a stolen car deliberately struck Delatorre after a dispute over a girl. The driver is in custody.
"My son, he was a good kid. He loves to play basketball. He likes to go out a lot," said Leticia Delatorre, victim's mother.
"There might have been a possible discussion or argument thread online or chat spaces on the computer," said Sgt. Tom Davis, Niles Police Department.
Delatorre's mother said the family had just moved to unincorporated Des Plaines to give their children a better life.
The teen accused of hitting Delatorre was initially being held on aggravated battery charges.
