Deylion L Spencer

Deylion L. Spencer, a 22-year-old Black man known affectionately to his family and friends as "DeyDey" or "Deyski," was a loving and caring father of two from Chicago. A former student at Bogan High School, he was remembered as the life of any gathering, a person who brought energy and joy to those around him. His life, full of promise, was tragically extinguished in a hail of bullets in the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 10, 2017.

The night of the attack, just before 1:00 a.m., Spencer was sitting inside a parked car with two friends, a 24-year-old and a 25-year-old. They were in the 8600 block of South Halsted Street in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on the city's South Side when their sense of security was shattered. An unknown individual approached their vehicle on foot, raised a gun, and fired multiple shots into the car, striking all three occupants. After the ambush, the shooter fled the scene, disappearing into the night.

Despite their injuries, the men managed to drive away, desperately seeking help. They traveled for more than two miles, their car finally coming to a stop in the 200 block of West 107th Street in the Fernwood neighborhood. From there, they were able to call the police and summon emergency services. When paramedics and officers arrived, they found a grim scene. All three men were suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Deylion Spencer had been shot in the back. He was immediately transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, a Level I trauma center, but his injuries proved to be catastrophic. Medical personnel fought to save his life, but he was pronounced dead at 1:43 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. His two companions were also rushed to the same hospital, both in serious condition. The 24-year-old had been shot in his arm and abdomen, while the 25-year-old was struck three times, with wounds to his arm, leg, and buttocks. Both men ultimately survived the violent attack.

The Chicago Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the shooting. In the initial hours and days following the incident, detectives worked to piece together the sequence of events and identify a motive. However, the case presented immediate challenges. The gunman had approached on foot and vanished quickly, leaving few initial leads for law enforcement to follow. Authorities reported that they had no suspects in custody and that the reason for the shooting remained unknown. The area was canvassed for witnesses and any potential surveillance footage that might have captured the assailant.

Years have passed since Deylion's murder, but justice has remained elusive. There have been no public announcements from the Chicago Police Department regarding any arrests, the identification of persons of interest, or significant breakthroughs in the investigation. The case has grown cold, joining a tragically long list of unsolved homicides in the city. For Deylion's family, friends, and two children, the absence of answers prolongs their grief and suffering. They are left to remember the young father whose life was violently stolen while the person responsible remains free.

As of late 2026, the murder of Deylion L. Spencer is an open and unsolved case. The investigation is officially handled by the Chicago Police Department, which holds the case file, awaiting any new information that could finally bring accountability for the crime that took one young man's life and forever altered the lives of two others.