Yakez Semark was 20 when he was fatally shot in Evanston, Illinois, on February 8, 2018. Born July 24, 1997, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he grew up in Rogers Park and later Evanston, graduating from Evanston Township High School in 2015. He had recently moved into his first apartment and worked full-time at Shake Shack in Westfield Mall.

The shooting occurred in an alley off the 1800 block of Hovland Court after a meeting arranged via social media. Reports say Yakez and 18-year-old Malik Caswell smoked marijuana together; Yakez gave some cannabis to 18-year-old Julius Francellno, who did not pay for it. When Yakez confronted Francellno about the theft, Francellno shot him in the chest. Yakez was taken to Evanston Hospital and pronounced dead shortly after midnight on February 9, 2018.

Both Francellno and Caswell were arrested and charged; subsequent pleas and sentences followed. Yakez’s mother, Evangeline Semark, and the Evanston community have been deeply affected by his death. If anyone knew Yakez or has information about the events that led to that night, please share what you remember.