Robert “Lil Rob” Thornton died Wednesday morning after being critically wounded in an Austin neighborhood drive-by shooting the night before.
Thornton, 32, was standing outside about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday on a sidewalk in the 5400 block of West Rice, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
A white vehicle went past and someone inside fired shots.
Thornton was struck in his chest and right leg, police said. He was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was pronounced dead at 7:06 a.m. Wednesday.
He lived in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with memorial expenses.
Thornton’s aunt, who started the page, wrote: “The unexpected loss of a loved one is so hard to put into words. The pain is so unimaginable, I wouldn’t want anyone to feel this pain.
“I would like everyone to remember Lil Robert by his funny jokes, his charming ways, and his genuine smile.”
—Chicago Sun-Times Wire