Family of slain rapper Trife asks for leads in 2013 murder

Michael Lansu — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 12:03:23 -0600

Tavache Kizer / Photo from Cook County Crime Stoppers

Relatives of a local rapper who was fatally shot in the South Shore neighborhood last year will gather Saturday to pass out flyers asking for leads in the case.

Tavache Kizer, who rapped under the name “Trife,” was shot Oct. 7, 2013, when he stopped to have a mechanic fix his car in the 7300 block of South Dorchester Avenue, according to Cook County Crime Stoppers.

Authorities said two people walked up and shot him in the head, authorities. Kizer, 38, of the 7600 block of South Phillips Avenue, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital the next day.

Kizer's brother, Larry “Shaciaren” Kizer, told the Sun-Times his brother wanted to create a positive vibe with his music, and the brothers created the nonprofit “Royalt2y” to reach young people.

“My brother understood that hip-hop is one of the most influential tools in America. ‘The power of life and death is in the tongue,’ he used to say, quoting Scripture,” Larry Kizer said.

Before being killed, Tavache Kizer was working with his brother to edit his new video “Respect the Youth,” a song dedicated to young people killed in gun violence.

“It was ironic that the last thing he wanted in that video were scenes of emptiness — empty playgrounds, basketball courts, swings and school hallways. Now, he has become a victim of the violence,” Larry Kizer said.

Tavache Kizer’s family will distribute flyers Saturday morning near the 7500 block of South Dorchester Avenue and will ask anyone with information to come forward, according to Cook County Crime Stoppers.

Anyone can leave an anonymous tip at the Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 535-7867 or text a tip to 27637 along with the word CPD. Callers can receive a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Man hurt in South Shore shooting dies

Sun-Times Media Wire — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:58:13 -0500

A man shot Monday afternoon in the South Shore neighborhood has died.

Two suspects on foot approached and shot him in the head about 3:45 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Dorchester Avenue, police News Affairs Officer Daniel O’Brien said.

Tavache Kizer, 38, of the 7600 block of South Phillips Avenue, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he died at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said.

Area Central detectives are investigating, but no one is in custody.

Tavache Kizer | Homicide Watch Chicago

Family of slain rapper Trife asks for leads in 2013 murder

Man hurt in South Shore shooting dies