Paris Thompson was fatally shot in the South Chicago neighborhood Sunday evening.
Paris Thompson | Facebook
Thompson, 38, was the father of a 3-year-old girl, a union welder who often traveled for his job, and “a grill master,” according to family friend, Lakesha Hill, said.
He was sitting outside about 7:20 p.m. in the 7900 block of South East End Avenue when another man walked up and fired shots, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Thompson, who lived a few blocks away, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, back and neck, authorities said.
He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 8:04 p.m., authorities said.
“Paris was a real family man,” Hill said. “He was big on that. He loved everyone the same. You couldn’t help but love him.”
Paris Thompson wears a shirt honoring his brother, William, who also died from violence. | photo from Lakesha Hill
Thompson was the oldest son of Deborah Thompson, and lost his only brother, William, to violence in Chicago in 2004, Hill said.
Hill is in disbelief that she has now lost her friend, saying Thompson was the godfather to her three children.
“[Paris] was everyone’s favorite cousin, friend, and nephew,” she said.
Paris with his daughter, D’laila.
Hill described Thompson as a “plain person” who loved to travel, grill, and eat—whether there was “rain, sleet, or snow.”
As a “grill master,” Hill said, his best creation was lobster.
“He was the shoulder for everyone and now he’s gone,” Hill said.
She wanted everyone to know that Thompson’s favorite saying was “be the best ‘you’ you can be.”