Body found inside burning car in Bridgeport was 15-year-old boy shot to death, coroner says

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago teen was shot to death before their body was found in the trunk of a burning car in Bridgeport Friday morning.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the body was a 15-year-old male, but it has not yet released the name of the boy yet.

Community activist Andrew Holmes said the family of the victim told him the teen attended Menta Academy on the city's South Side.

The medical examiner said the boy died as a result of being shot in the neck and chest.

The family said they hope the public can help get justice for the teenage boy.

Police found the body inside of the trunk of a burning car around 2 a.m. Friday morning in the 3700 block of South Parnell Avenue.

Holmes said the victim was from the North Side. He met with the mother of the teen on Saturday.

"She's trying to hold her memories in of her baby," Holmes said. "The things she talked about was only his smile. He can light up a room and the disturbing part of this is, it's her only child."

The family was too shaken to share a photo of the teen and his name will not be released until the medical examiner releases that information.

Holmes said the boy was shot in another part of the city before his remains were driven to an alley and lit on fire.

"We understand the car was stolen, stolen possibly from Lansing out in the suburbs from an auto shop," Holmes said. "Hopefully their security footage can shed light on this too."

The registered owner of the vehicle told ABC7 that he initially had no idea what unfolded Friday morning as his vehicle had been in the shop undergoing repairs.

Residents in Bridgeport have been asked to check their security cameras. A $1,000 reward has been offered by community activists for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

"Parents, also ask your children, maybe if your kids go to Menta Academy," said Lisette Guillen with Case File Chicago. "Ask your children if they've heard anything. We need information to help detectives bring this case to justice."

No one has been arrested and anyone with information has been asked to call Chicago police.