BY CHASE DIFELICIANTONIO
Homicide Watch Chicago
Ronald Hayes’ older brother survived being shot nine times last year outside their mother’s Near West Side home, family said.
On Sunday, Hayes was fatally shot while shoveling snow just blocks away, said his mother, Cathy Booker.
“He was shoveling snow. He was doing a good deed,” Booker said.
Authorities said Hayes, 17, was shot multiple times about 4:15 p.m. Sunday in the 1300 block of West Hastings Street — about two blocks from the Near West District police station.
Hayes, who lived about two blocks north in the 1300 block of West Washburn Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
A small memorial of teddy bears, flowers and a blue balloon marked the scene of the killing.
Ronald Hayes memorial
Hayes’ was a fan of Chicago Bulls’ star Derrick Rose and often played basketball in nearby Fosco Park, Booker said.
Hayes attended Banner Academy West High School and was scheduled to graduate in June, said Booker, who wore Hayes’ school ID around her neck.
“He was a good kid, he loved his family, loved basketball” Booker said. “He was gonna take his mama to prom.”
Hayes enjoyed rap music, especially South Side rapper Chief Keef, and had a big appetite for tacos and Italian beef sandwiches, his mother said.
Hayes, nicknamed “Duck,” was known for his gregarious smile. As word of his death spread, Hayes’ friends took to Twitter to express their condolences.
R.I.P RONALD “LIL DUCK” HAYES !
#BallInParadise MY BOI!
— #Mr1OOMusic (@TBoneLo219) February 10, 2014
Booker said her son related to Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl fatally shot in January 2013 less than a mile from President Barack Obama’s Kenwood home.
“His heart felt for her,” Booker said.
While Hayes never met Pendleton, he had personally experienced violence. Last year, Hayes’ 18-year-old brother was shot nine times, their mother said.
Booker claims local gang members killed Hayes. She acknowledged her son had a juvenile criminal record, but described the arrests as teenage behavior and said her son was not involved in a gang.
Ronald Hayes / Photo from Facebook
“He wasn’t no gang banger, what gang banger you know shovels snow?” said Booker, who noted the number of police cameras near the murder scene.
Booker’s voice rose when talking about the violence in her community.
“Where’s the mayor? Where’s the alderman?” Booker said. “They don’t give damn about our family down here. … Mayor, when you going to help me?”
Nobody has been charged in the murder.
Area Central detectives are investigating.