Fifteen-year-old Deshawn Martin was hanging out with friends when he was shot to death Monday evening in the backyard of a home just a block from where he lived in the Washington Heights neighborhood on the Far South Side.
Deshawn was in the backyard of a friend’s home about 7:35 p.m. in the 1000 block of West 103rd Street, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Three boys, including Deshawn and his 11-year-old brother, were preparing to go play basketball, when several shots rang out and Deshawn was struck in the chest. Sources said the shots may have come from a nearby yard.
He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was died about two hours later at 9:15 p.m., authorities said. An autopsy showed Deshawn died of a gunshot wound to the chest and ruled the death a homicide. Police initially said the boy was 13.
Family members said Deshawn was a “sweet boy” who enjoyed reading and playing basketball. He attended Marcus Garvey Elementary School.
He lived just around the corner from where he was shot.
Bishop William Hudson III is pastor of the nearby Prayer & Faith Outreach Ministries, where Deshawn attended Vacation Bible School and a Safe Haven program.
Funeral services for the boy are scheduled there for Saturday.
The bishop posted on Facebook: “I am deeply saddened at the senseless murder of Deshawn Martin who was the son of my spiritual daughter Elizabeth Coats-Hausmann! Our scheduled Sixth Watch Prayer service is cancelled as we wrap our arms around Elizabeth and her family at Deshawn’s Homegoing this Saturday, July 1st at 10am at Prayer & Faith Outreach Ministries, 944 W 103rd St. Please join us by keeping this mother and DeShawn’s siblings, family, friends and the Washington Heights community covered in prayer!”
—Homicide Watch Chicago and Chicago Sun-Times Wire