Slain teen's birthday honored on North Side

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Balloons were released Sunday to honor the birthday of a teenager who was killed more than three and half years ago.

Leon DeaKyne, who would have turned 21 years old this month, was shot and killed just blocks from his North Side home in December of 2011.

DeaKyne's mother was joined by other parents who have lost their children to violence. Her son's case remains unsolved.

"I still don't know why and I don't know who, and there's so much going on around in this community and people are afraid to get involved," Becky DeaKyne said.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call police.