Shannon Mack | Homicide Watch Chicago

Shannon Mack remembered as a 'totally family-oriented team player'

Susan Du — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 18:23:16 -0500

Shannon Mack / Photo from Facebook

Shannon Mack was a father, brother and "favorite uncle" who was a constant mentor to the youths in his family.

Mack, 34, was shot in the head and body about 9:30 p.m. April 11 in the in the 2700 block of East 76th Street in the South Shore community, authorities said. Mack, of the 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Mack was divorced from the mother of his two sons, ages 11 and 13, but remained a mentor to the young people in his family as well as being a dutiful resource for the elders, said his former sister-in-law Lynette Germany. He was an odd-job man with ready advice and the initiative to support his family any way he could.

"His nieces and nephews could go to him at any time for advice or just to talk," Germany said. "He actually became one of their favorite uncles because he wouldn't judge them and he let them express their feelings with him and just gave them advice on growing up."

A Bears fan and avid listener of old-school soul artists like Curtis Mayfield, Mack would spend hours playing video games on the PlayStation 2 with the boys, Germany said.

Since his death, his ex-wife and kids have been quietly mourning the loss of someone whom Germany characterized as a "totally family-oriented team player."

"The first thing always is denial. You don't want it to be your family," Germany said, her voice breaking as she recalled hearing from her mother that Mack had been shot. "I couldn't wrap my thoughts around the fact that it meant when we would have a gathering he wouldn't be there, and I'm not going to get used to that anytime soon."

More than her own grief, Germany said what really devastates her is the idea Mack's two boys are going to grow up without their father and his guidance.

"He wasn't just a guy that got shot on South Shore. He was our brother," she said. "I just wish it would stop. This is crazy. This is nonsense. You hear about it but you just... It's just hard."

Nobody has been charged for Mack's murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

Comment of the Day: "My BroGod didn't deserve this man!"

Michael Lansu — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 16:21:36 -0500

Shannon Mack was fatally shot Friday night in the South Shore neighborhood. Reader "robin" posted this about him:

My BroGod didn't deserve this man!!!! R.I.P Skee Mac

WEEK IN REVIEW: Seven shot dead throughout city

Michael Lansu — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 09:15:54 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Seven people were shot to death throughout the city last week.

Four of the seven murders happened since Friday afternoon during a bloody weekend that saw 33 other people wounded by gunfire.

The most recent murder happened in the Washington Park neighborhood when Corey Brownlee was fatally shot behind his home in the 6000 block of South Indiana Avenue about 2:40 a.m. Sunday, authorities said. A 27-year-old woman was also wounded in the shooting but survived.

Brownlee, 32, was shot in the chest and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Gage Park neighborhood, 20-year-old Joshua Martinez was shot in the head and back in the 3000 block of West 53rd Place about 1 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Martinez, of the 4900 block of South Karlov Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder in Martinez' death and is expected to appear for a bond hearing later Monday.

On Friday, 34-year-old Shannon Mack was found shot to death in the 2700 block of East 76th Street about 9:30 p.m., authorities said.

Mack, of the 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the Woodlawn neighborhood, 17-year-old Gakirah Barnes was fatally shot about 3:30 p.m. Friday in the 6400 block of South Eberhart Avenue, authorities said. Two other people were wounded in the shooting, police said.

Gakirah, 17, was shot in the upper body and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, about two hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Residents of a home on the block were in shock over the murder. They said the girl was shot while walking on the street then collapsed onto the porch of the home, bleeding from the neck and chest.

On Wednesday, rapper Big Glo -- cousin to fellow musician Chief Keef -- was fatally shot about 9:30 p.m. in the 5600 block of South Elizabeth Street, authorities said.

Big Glo, whose real name was Mario Hess, 30, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County about an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

Big Glo -- who also performed under the name Blood Money -- had just recently signed with Interscope Records, said his manager, Renaldo Reuben Hess, who was also his client’s cousin.

In the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, 17-year-old Adrian Soto was killed when a gunman approached from a gangway in the 6300 block of South Mozart Street and shot him in the head about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Soto, of the 6200 block of South Francisco Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 1:59 a.m. Friday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killings started about 7:20 p.m. Monday when Darnall Gordon was fatally shot in a convenience store in the 1600 block of West Howard Street, authorities said. Two other men were wounded in the shooting but survived.

Authorities said somebody opened fire from across the street and Gordon was shot in the chest. Gordon, 36, of the 6300 block of North Sacramento Avenue, died about an hour later at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, according to the medical examiner's office.

Shannon Mack fatally shot in South Shore

Michael Lansu — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 18:28:21 -0500

Shannon Mack was found shot to death Friday night in the South Shore neighborhood.

Mack, 34, was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body about 9:30 p.m. in the 2700 block of East 76th Street, authorities said.

Mack, of the 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. A Saturday autopsy ruled the death a homicide.

Nobody has been charged in the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire