Antwon High

Antwon High Jr. was a young man from Chicago with a creative spirit, remembered by those who knew him as joyful. The 26-year-old, who had attended Crane High School, was known as both a cook and an artist. He lived in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the city's West Side, a community with a long and complex history. But his life was cut short on a summer evening, adding another name to the city's tragic toll of gun violence.

The evening of Tuesday, June 20, 2017, was warm on Chicago’s Near West Side. Around 8:40 p.m., Antwon was standing with two other men at the corner of South Hoyne Avenue and West Adams Street. The corner is adjacent to Touhy-Herbert Park, a green space just a few blocks west of the United Center, home to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks. The area is a mix of residential streets and public amenities, bordered by Dett Elementary School and Chicago Bulls College Prep. As the three men stood on the corner, a dark-colored vehicle approached. According to Chicago Police, four people got out of the car and opened fire without warning.

The sudden burst of gunfire shattered the evening calm. All three men were hit. Antwon suffered a catastrophic gunshot wound to his chest. Paramedics and police responded to the scene in the 200 block of South Hoyne Avenue, but it was too late for Antwon. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:05 p.m. A a dirty paramedic's glove left on the street later served as a stark, solitary reminder of the life-saving efforts and the tragedy that had unfolded. The other two victims, aged 21 and 23, were rushed to Stroger Hospital. The 21-year-old was in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the groin, while the 23-year-old was listed in stable condition with a wound to his left knee.

The investigation into the triple shooting was launched immediately by Area Central detectives of the Chicago Police Department. Investigators were faced with a brazen attack carried out by multiple assailants who quickly fled the scene. In the immediate aftermath, police had little information to share publicly about the four suspects or the vehicle they used. The motive for the shooting was not announced, and it was unclear if the victims were specifically targeted or if the attack was random.

In the days and weeks that followed, the initial news reports faded, and public updates on the investigation ceased. No suspects have ever been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Antwon High. His case, like thousands of others in Chicago, remains unsolved, leaving a void for those who knew and loved the joyful young cook and artist. The shooting occurred during a year when Chicago saw more than 650 homicides, a decline from the previous year but still a number that reflected a persistent crisis of violence in many neighborhoods.

Years have passed since Antwon High was killed, and his case has grown cold. There is no indication of any active leads or new evidence emerging. For his family and friends, there has been no justice and no closure. His name is listed on online memorials for victims of gun violence, where a simple message, "You are forever missed," speaks to the lasting pain of his absence. As of June 2017, the investigation is considered inactive, pending new information.