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Chicago teen shot by stray bullet after pleading in video for end to gun violence | Chicago teen shot by stray bullet after pleading in video for end to gun violence |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Just last year, 12-year-old Zarriel Trotter took part in a public education campaign to speak out against violence in his Chicago neighborhood. | Just last year, 12-year-old Zarriel Trotter took part in a public education campaign to speak out against violence in his Chicago neighborhood. |
“I don’t want to live around my community where I’ve got to keep on hearing and hearing [about] people keep on getting shot, people keep on getting killed,” he said in the video, seeking to educate people about the impact of gun violence on the city’s black youth. | “I don’t want to live around my community where I’ve got to keep on hearing and hearing [about] people keep on getting shot, people keep on getting killed,” he said in the video, seeking to educate people about the impact of gun violence on the city’s black youth. |
On Friday evening, Zarriel, now aged 13, became another statistic in the gun violence that has worn down his city when he was shot and seriously injured by a stray bullet as he walked home after playing basketball. | On Friday evening, Zarriel, now aged 13, became another statistic in the gun violence that has worn down his city when he was shot and seriously injured by a stray bullet as he walked home after playing basketball. |
Reports said the bullet narrowly missed the teenager’s spine and that he remains in a critical condition in a Chicago hospital. | Reports said the bullet narrowly missed the teenager’s spine and that he remains in a critical condition in a Chicago hospital. |
The youngster is just one of dozens of people shot and wounded every week in Chicago. Reports suggest the city is averaging seven shootings a day, with one of them being fatal. | The youngster is just one of dozens of people shot and wounded every week in Chicago. Reports suggest the city is averaging seven shootings a day, with one of them being fatal. |
Several of the incidents have been high profile, among them a shoot-out involving rival gang members on Lake Shore Drive, the wounding of three Chicago police officers and the gang execution of nine-year-old Tyshawn Lee last November. | Several of the incidents have been high profile, among them a shoot-out involving rival gang members on Lake Shore Drive, the wounding of three Chicago police officers and the gang execution of nine-year-old Tyshawn Lee last November. |
The city's police force has struggled to tackle the violence and there have been a number of incidents of black suspects being shot by officers in controversial circumstances. One officer has been charged with murder over the shooting of a teenager, while Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been under pressure to resign. He recently fired his police chief and appointed veteran officer Eddie Johnson as the interim head. | The city's police force has struggled to tackle the violence and there have been a number of incidents of black suspects being shot by officers in controversial circumstances. One officer has been charged with murder over the shooting of a teenager, while Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been under pressure to resign. He recently fired his police chief and appointed veteran officer Eddie Johnson as the interim head. |
Zarriel is a pupil at Catalyst Circle Rock, where he was one of a handful of students were selected to take part in the public service broadcast. | Zarriel is a pupil at Catalyst Circle Rock, where he was one of a handful of students were selected to take part in the public service broadcast. |
In the video, seven of the school’s male students talked about their feelings of both fear and sadness. Zarriel spoke about half-way through the video and talked of his exhaustion with the killings. | In the video, seven of the school’s male students talked about their feelings of both fear and sadness. Zarriel spoke about half-way through the video and talked of his exhaustion with the killings. |
The teenager was walking home about 8.30pm after playing basketball when a heated argument broke out between two groups on the street. | The teenager was walking home about 8.30pm after playing basketball when a heated argument broke out between two groups on the street. |
A man from one group pulled out a gun and fired shots, Chicago Police spokesman Veejay Zala told the Chicago Tribune. Zarriel was struck, though he was not the intended target. He was just yards from his home. | A man from one group pulled out a gun and fired shots, Chicago Police spokesman Veejay Zala told the Chicago Tribune. Zarriel was struck, though he was not the intended target. He was just yards from his home. |
The school’s headteacher, Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn, told The Independent that the teenager was involved in the school’s mentoring programmes. | |
"His family is remaining strong. They are seeing some signs of progress so they are hopeful he will make a full recovery," she said. | |
“He is just a great big brother. He has a lots of friends who are missing him. He brings a lot of laughter and joy." | |
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