Local Teen's Life Cut Short in Sudden, Tragic Halloween Shooting
When John Thomas set out on his bike ride home from trick-or-treating Friday afternoon, he was unaware that his life was about to be brutally cut short. The 15-year-old was fatally shot in the 1300 block of West Grenshaw Street on the Near West Side, a community already reeling from gun violence.
According to eyewitnesses, John was biking towards his father's house when a resident, who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, heard a dozen shots fired in rapid succession. The witness described the scene as "like a war zone," with muzzle flashes and blood-soaked streets.
John reportedly retaliated by pulling out a gun from his bike, but it is unclear if this was confirmed by Chicago police. What is certain is that he was shot again, and this time, he fell to the ground, motionless.
"I saw him fall back and he was motionless, and then the car drove off," the witness recalled. "When I went to call 911, all I could see in my head is this kid lying on his back with his arms flayed and completely motionless."
Responding officers attempted to save John's life, but unfortunately, they were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital at 4:48 p.m.
John's mother, Selinda Bennett, described her son as a loving family man who considered everyone he met to be his "family." She remembered how John would often joke with friends and take time to cook for his relatives.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving residents feeling vulnerable and concerned about their safety. The resident who witnessed the tragedy expressed a desire for increased security measures, including the possibility of deploying National Guard troops in the area.
As for John's family, they are still reeling from the loss. Bennett urged other parents to prioritize spending quality time with their children, hugging them tightly and letting them know how much they love them.
When John Thomas set out on his bike ride home from trick-or-treating Friday afternoon, he was unaware that his life was about to be brutally cut short. The 15-year-old was fatally shot in the 1300 block of West Grenshaw Street on the Near West Side, a community already reeling from gun violence.
According to eyewitnesses, John was biking towards his father's house when a resident, who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, heard a dozen shots fired in rapid succession. The witness described the scene as "like a war zone," with muzzle flashes and blood-soaked streets.
John reportedly retaliated by pulling out a gun from his bike, but it is unclear if this was confirmed by Chicago police. What is certain is that he was shot again, and this time, he fell to the ground, motionless.
"I saw him fall back and he was motionless, and then the car drove off," the witness recalled. "When I went to call 911, all I could see in my head is this kid lying on his back with his arms flayed and completely motionless."
Responding officers attempted to save John's life, but unfortunately, they were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital at 4:48 p.m.
John's mother, Selinda Bennett, described her son as a loving family man who considered everyone he met to be his "family." She remembered how John would often joke with friends and take time to cook for his relatives.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving residents feeling vulnerable and concerned about their safety. The resident who witnessed the tragedy expressed a desire for increased security measures, including the possibility of deploying National Guard troops in the area.
As for John's family, they are still reeling from the loss. Bennett urged other parents to prioritize spending quality time with their children, hugging them tightly and letting them know how much they love them.
A 15-year-old life cut short by gun violence? It's like we're stuck in a never-ending nightmare where kids are getting killed left and right. And what really gets me is that John was just trying to get home after trick-or-treating, he wasn't even looking for trouble.
it's like, what even is the point of living if we can't feel safe in our own neighborhoods? 
chicago needs more than just security measures, it needs a fundamental shift in how we approach gun violence 
like, why are kids carrying guns as a form of self-defense? isn't that just gonna make things worse? 
anyway, my heart goes out to john's family and the community he was a part of 
This is so sad 
And poor Selinda Bennett, I can only imagine how she's feeling right now 
. We should all be trying to make our communities safer for kids like John, you know? 
.
I mean, can you imagine if your child was taken from you like that? 
The fact that a resident heard a dozen shots fired and still managed to get a glimpse of the aftermath is just devastating. And the mom's words about prioritizing family time are so true - it's not just about keeping our kids safe from harm, but also making sure they feel loved and cherished every day. 
The community needs to come together and demand some real change here, you know? We can't keep living in fear of being gunned down on the streets like this is some kind of senseless statistic. 
i dont even no what to say the pics of blood on the streets are just too much 
its not right that we gotta live in a world where a kid has to worry about being shot while riding his bike to home 
especially after halloween when u'd think ppl would be more chill 
John was just a teenager living his life, enjoying Halloween with friends and family, and then BAM 
gun violence takes him away in an instant. It's like, what's the point of even having laws if they're not going to be enforced? 
. Can we please just talk about doing something different here? How about more community programs and youth services instead of just throwing more guns at the problem 
chicago needs to do somethin' about dis kinda stuff, can't even let kids ride their bikes without worryin bout bein shot 
. It's just devastating to think about John being on that bike ride, having a good time with friends, and then... 
.