Jeremy L. Smith was 17 and a junior at Ombudsman Chicago South Alternative School when he was shot and killed on the evening of March 2, 2024. Known to friends as Jermo, he loved basketball, played regularly at the South Side YMCA, made his own music beats, and was described by family as a genuine, likable teen who did not start fights.

Around 8 p.m., a large crowd had gathered for a promoted teen takeover near the Southgate Market shopping mall in the South Loop. Shots were fired in the parking lot of a bank on the 500 block of West Roosevelt Road. Officers found two victims; Jeremy suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy found he died from a gunshot to the back. A 15-year-old also was shot in the leg and hospitalized in fair condition.

Police recovered a weapon at the scene and briefly detained a 14-year-old who was released days later without homicide charges; several other teens faced misdemeanor counts. Authorities later filed felony charges against a suspect who is awaiting trial. If anyone knew Jeremy or has information about the shooting, please come forward.