Photo courtesy of ABC 7 Chicago
On Wednesday, a Chicago mother was fatally shot in Roseland after visiting a memorial where her 14-year-old son was gunned down two days earlier.
According to CBS Chicago, Delisa Tucker, 31, and a mother of six, was shot in the chest early Wednesday morning on the 200 block of West 110th Place, off Wentworth Avenue. Tucker was reportedly visiting the spot where her son, Kevin Tinker Jr., 14, died after being shot multiple times on Sunday, Nov. 21.
“It’s just sad that this whole family, basically, to be killed over time,” said Pastor Donovan Price, who said he consoled Tucker at a vigil for her son Sunday night. “I’m devastated,” Chicago Sun-Times reported
.A family friend said Tucker was on her way to place candles at her son’s vigil when she was shot. She also said Tinker was a good kid and not a gang-banger.
“They were not gang-banging,” said the woman, who asked not to be named. “Kevin was a quiet boy. He was just starting to get out of his shell.”
Family and friends gathered together and wondered how and why this tragedy happened to two of their dear loved ones. They’re also in unimaginable pain as they plan two funerals for Tucker and Tinker, CBS Chicago reported.
“We need justice for Delisa and Kevin,” said family friend Michelle Tharpe. “That’s all we want.”
“He didn’t deserve it,” said family friend Amber Lee. “He was a kid!”
Tinker’s father, Kevin Tinker Sr., said his son was walking home from a friend’s house when he was shot.
“Some violence found him,” said Tinker Sr. “He was a good kid. He didn’t gang bang. Played basketball. Played on his phone a lot. He liked to play games. He was not a gangbanger at all. He stayed in the house most of the time, with his little brothers and sisters.”
Tucker leaves behind five children between the ages of 4 and 15. The family has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses and care for her children.
“Can you all please donate to the GoFundMe, please, so we can please lay them to rest, like well?” Lee said.
“If you all could, just please just donate for my friend and her kids,” said Tharpe. “They didn’t deserve this.”
Police said there were no witnesses, and they could not say whether the killings of both Tucker and Tinker were related, per Chicago Sun-Times.
According to Sun-Times data, Roseland is one of the deadliest neighborhoods in Chicago. The area has seen 26 shooting deaths so far in 2021, putting it on track to have an even deadlier year than 2020
“The Calumet police district, which includes Roseland, has recorded at least 61 homicides this year, 49% more than this time last year. Shootings are up 31%.”