9-year-old boy killed in Matteson shooting, police say
MATTESON, Ill. (WLS) -- A 9-year-old boy was shot and killed in the south suburbs Thursday night, Matteson officials said during a Friday press conference.
The incident took place about 6 p.m. in the 800-block of Campus Avenue, police said.
An altercation between two groups of young people, which initially began in a nearby suburb, led to the fatal shooting, according to Matteson officials.
Matteson police and fire crews responded to the area and found the 9-year-old outside his home with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Despite life-saving efforts, the boy, identified as O'Mauri Jones-Brown, died in a local emergency room.
Around the same time, a 20-year-old victim entered St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields with a non-life threatening gunshot wound suffered in the same incident, police said.
Matteson police and detectives with the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, along with the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating.
It was not immediately clear if anyone was in custody later Friday.
Police said there is no reason to believe there is imminent danger to the public, and the incident appears isolated.
"Being a small community, all of these are our children," Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin said. "We are heartbroken. We are all in mourning here in the village of Matteson."
Jones-Brown's family shared memories of the boy's short life and the impact he had on those he loved most Friday.
"It's God, nobody but God. He's the lifter of our heads, nobody but Him. We can't make it without Him," Jones-Brown's grandmother Denise Jones said. "Just a 9-year-old kid, A-student, always been As since he had been to school, all As all the time."
Jones is leaning extra hard on her faith right now.
"He loved family gatherings, loved to play ball, you know?" said Linda Jones, the boy's aunt.
Denise Jones said she and the child were outside when the shooting began.
"When he started shooting, we ran. My grandbaby died laying right there under the stairs," she said. "He caught us off guard. He left off a lot of rounds."
Denise Jones was grazed by a bullet, and her son was also shot in the leg, but is OK.
The family is floored with grief.
"I love you. I'm sorry; you called grandma to help. I could help everyone else, but I couldn't save you," Jones said.
Jones-Brown's family wants closure and answers.
"We want justice," Linda Jones said.
Jones-Brown was a third-grader at the Arcadia Elementary School in Olympia Fields, Matteson School District 162 officials said.
A crisis team was available at the school Friday. The team will be available again on Tuesday, "and as long as necessary."
"We will keep this beautiful young child, his family, classmates, friends and teachers in our hearts, thoughts and prayers," school officials said.
Anyone with information on the deadly shooting is asked to call Matteson police at 708-503-3130.
