Mother mourns son killed days before 15th birthday as police search for South Side shooting suspect

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Friday would have been Marcus Chatman Jr.'s 15th birthday.

Instead, his mother is preparing to bury him as police continue searching for whoever shot and killed the 14-year-old in Auburn Gresham.

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Football played a central role in Marcus' life. He started playing at age 5 and spent much of his childhood with the Midwest Hawks in Country Club Hills, where his stepfather is one of the coaches.

"Football gave him a sense of belonging. A sense of yeah, these my friends and we're all doing something that we love," said his mother, Ahmani Hicks.

Since Marcus' death, Hicks said the support from the team and community has been overwhelming.

"Countless phone calls, messages, groceries. We'll go outside and it will be full of groceries on our porch," she said.

Marcus, one of five brothers, was shot and killed last Thursday while walking out of an apartment building near 80th Street and Carpenter. Police said the investigation is ongoing. Hicks said investigators have surveillance video showing her son being shot twice in the back.

"He never seen it coming. He thinks he's just walking with his group of friends," she said.

Hicks said her son had recently fallen in with the wrong group of people, but she was trying to give him space as he grew older.

"Normally I'm on his back. No, you can't do this. No you can't do that. But he had just finished his freshman year of school. He had A's and B's. Yes. It's almost your birthday. Go have fun. Go spend the night at your friend's house. It's fine," she said.

Now, Hicks said she is speaking publicly to warn other parents.

"You're not your kid's friend. Trust yourself. Trust that you are making the right decisions for them, even if they are mad or upset that they can't do certain things. So what?" she said.

Hicks said she does not want her son to be remembered only for how he died.

"I'd rather speak up now because my son was important. He has a loving family. He is a sweetheart. And he deserves for me to be his voice," she said.

Marcus Chatman will be laid to rest Monday. Before then, his mother said she plans to celebrate his birthday one more time with a balloon release alongside his football family.

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