Former Farragut star Demetrius Tolliver and Dejenaba Altman killed in shooting near West Garfield Park school

During a post-game interview Friday night, Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks acknowledged the passing of another former Chicago high school basketball superstar—Demetrius “DJ” Tolliver, killed in a shooting last week that also claimed the life of Dejenaba A. Altman.

Demetrius Tolliver lays in a shot for Farragut over Simeon's Jabari Parker (11) in March 2011. Last week, Tolliver was killed in a shooting near a West Garfield Park elementary school. | Sun-Times file photo

Demetrius Tolliver lays in a shot for Farragut over Simeon’s Jabari Parker (11) in March 2011. Last week, Tolliver was killed in a shooting near a West Garfield Park elementary school. | Sun-Times file photo


They were killed Thursday afternoon in the West Garfield Park neighborhood in a shooting that also left a 16-year-old injured, Chicago Police said.

The three victims were standing outside in the 4300 block of West Wilcox, just across the street from Hefferan Elementary School, at 4:04 p.m. when four people got out of a van and opened fire, according to Chicago Police.

The school was placed on lockdown until police had surrounded the scene.

Demetrius "DJ" Tolliver | Facebook

Demetrius “DJ” Tolliver | Facebook


Tolliver, 23, was shot in the chest and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the Cook County medical examiner’s office and police said.

Altman, 43, suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was also pronounced dead, the medical examiner’s office said. The medical examiner’s office said she lived in Cicero, but her Facebook page said she was a DeKalb resident.

The teen was shot in the leg and was also taken to Mount Sinai, where his condition was stabilized, police said.

Tolliver, who starred at Farragut High, went on to play at Highland Community College in Freeport, Illinois.

On Friday night, Parker, a former Simeon standout, sent his condolences to the Tolliver family during a press conference following a Milwaukee victory in Orlando.

Dejenaba Altman | Facebook

Dejenaba Altman | Facebook


Visitation for Tolliver will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at Stone Temple Baptist Church, 3622 W. Douglas. The wake will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m.

A GoFundMe page has been started by Altman’s family to help with funeral expenses.

—Homicide Watch Chicago

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