Oct 23, 2009 5:34 pm US/Central
CPS Student Fatally Shot In Back Of The Yards
17-Year-Old Dead At The Scene Of Shooting
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Gamaliel Toscano
Chicago Police Department
A Chicago Public Schools student was fatally shot Thursday afternoon as he walked home from school in the South Side Back of the Yards neighborhood.
About 2:45 p.m., the teen was on a sidewalk in the 1100 block of West 47th Street when an unknown gunman approached on foot and fired shots, authorities said.
Gamaliel Toscano, 17, was shot at 1127 W. 47th St., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 2:55 p.m. A Friday autopsy ruled the death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
The teen, who was a 10th grade student at Tilden High School, was dead on the scene after being shot multiple times. The shooting took place less than one mile from the school.
"The street violence that has taken too many of our students concerns all of us, and we continue to work with the Chicago Police Department, faith leaders, parents and the community to ensure safe passage," CPS CEO Ron Huberman said.
"Our priority at this time is to support the family of Gamaliel Toscano and the Tilden school community," Huberman said.
Gamaliel "was very nice and outgoing," according to Nataly Barrera, who used to work with the teen as coordinator of the high school program at Chicago Commons, a non-profit organization that provides after-school assistance and recreational programs for Chicago students.
"I have nothing but fond memories of him," Barrera said.
"Gama," as he was known to his friends, used to go to Chicago Commons for academic assistance and a "safe haven off the streets," according to Barrera, who no long works for the facility.
A group of younger girls in grammar school were so fond of Gama, they started a club devoted to him. He, in turn, allowed them to put pigtails in his long, curly hair, according to Barrera, who first met Gama when he was a freshman in high school.
Gama was not involved with gangs, but he did live in a highly gang-affected neighborhood where it is common for kids who are not gang-affiliated to be threatened and pressured by gang-members, Barrera said. He was walking home from school when he was shot.
Anyone with information is asked to call Wentworth Area Detectives at (312) 747-8380.
Candles and balloons mark the scene where 17-year-old Gamaliel died.
"They took, took my brother," Misael Toscano said. "And he was always there for me. Now he's gone."
Community activist Andrew Holmes says he's working with police to get video from businesses who have surveillance cameras where the shooting occurred.
"No matter what race, creed or color, we need to have these perpetrators apprehended," he said.
STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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