Byron T Mckinney

Byron T. McKinney, a 24-year-old African-American man known to his loved ones as “BJ” or “Lil B-Y,” was remembered as a cherished son, nephew, and friend. Born on September 30, 1992, to Charlene Redmond and Byron McKinney Sr., he grew up surrounded by a loving family in Chicago. According to his obituary, he was the “first baby boy on Van Buren where everyone would pick him up and buy him things.” His mother, Charlene, was fiercely dedicated to his future, working two jobs to provide for him and paying for him to attend a private elementary school to ensure he received a quality education.

Family members recalled a happy child who brought joy to those around him. As a two-year-old, he was captivated by the movie "The Lion King" and would insist that all the adults in the house watch it with him and join in singing the songs. His aunt, Candice Redmond, remembered being the "strong auntie" who showed him tough love but also spoiled him and his cousins every Christmas, going out of her way to make them happy. “BJ was loved by many,” she shared, reflecting on the close-knit family that groomed him and taught him right from wrong.

The bright future his family envisioned for him was cut short on the afternoon of Friday, April 7, 2017. At approximately 1:38 p.m., Byron was with a group of people in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side. They were standing in the 5600 block of West Lake Street, near the corner of Central Avenue and West Corcoran Place, when a gray SUV approached. Someone inside the vehicle opened fire on the group in a brazen drive-by shooting in broad daylight. The area, near Austin Town Hall Park, was quickly transformed into a chaotic crime scene as police cordoned off the street with yellow tape.

Six people were struck by the gunfire. Byron, who lived on the 500 block of North Pine Avenue, was critically wounded. He was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center, but doctors were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead. The five other victims—men aged 17, 20, 24, 29, and 46—all survived their injuries and were reported to be in good condition at a local hospital. Byron was the only person killed in the attack.

His funeral, held on April 15 at the Home of Life M.B. Church, was a testament to the deep love his family held for him and the profound grief his murder caused. The service became more than a moment of mourning; it turned into an impassioned revival. His aunt, Candice Redmond, stood before the mourners and fought through her pain to remember her nephew and issue a desperate plea to the community. “I get on Facebook and I see this person's nephew dying, this person's grandchild dying,” she cried out. “It just hurts. It hurts. It hurts.”

In a moment of raw emotion, she urged the clergy in attendance to pray for every person at the funeral under the age of 30, especially her other nephews. “Please, talk to my nephews,” she begged. Pastors called the young people to the front of the church, near Byron’s casket, for an altar call. One pastor spoke of a “dying world” that was trying to “take our young people with it.” The funeral service transformed as at least eight young people recited the Sinner’s Prayer, seeking salvation in a moment of overwhelming loss and fear.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the shooting, but no arrests have ever been publicly announced in connection with Byron McKinney’s murder. In the days following his death, his family started a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of his burial. As of late 2026, the case remains unsolved, and the person or people who drove up in a gray SUV and ended a young man's life have not been brought to justice. Byron's family and community are still waiting for answers.