Jawon C Carter

Jawon C. Carter, a 24-year-old Black man known to loved ones as "Buddha," was the youngest of his mother's children. Remembered as funny, caring, and helpful, he was the father of a young daughter. His life was abruptly taken in a burst of gunfire in Chicago's Washington Park neighborhood, a loss that his family described as hitting them very hard. In the wake of her son's death, Jawon's mother, Yolanda, founded the Jawon Carter Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to bring awareness to the mental health challenges that families face after losing a loved one to gun violence.

The shooting happened just before 2:00 a.m. on Friday, March 10, 2017. Jawon was inside the small vestibule of the GoLo gas station at 123 E. 51st Street, near the border of the Grand Boulevard neighborhood, with three other men. Suddenly, a gray, four-door Chevrolet pulled up, and someone inside the car opened fire on the group. The attack was captured on the station's surveillance camera, showing the men inside the cramped space shuffling nervously just before the shots began.

The hail of gunfire was devastating. When Chicago Police officers arrived, they found all four victims in the gas station's foyer. Jawon had been shot multiple times in his torso and legs. He was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:55 a.m. Also killed in the attack was 24-year-old Lavelle Cox, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A 25-year-old man was seriously wounded with multiple gunshots to his legs and a graze wound to his head. The fourth victim, a 64-year-old man who did odd jobs at the gas station, was shot once in the leg and listed in stable condition. An autopsy by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Jawon Carter died from multiple gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide.

The Chicago Police Department launched an investigation, confirming they had the surveillance footage of the shooting. The shooter's car drove away from the scene, and no immediate arrests were made. In August 2018, a graphic, minute-long video of the shooting surfaced and began circulating on social media platforms like Facebook, causing confusion and outrage among viewers who mistakenly thought it was a recent event. Police confirmed they were aware of the video's circulation but had not released it to the public. The business changed owners shortly after the shooting, and the new manager was unsure who had released the footage.

In the aftermath of the violence, the gas station became a focus of community concern. Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) stated the location had been a problem for some time, with issues of loitering and unauthorized cars. Following the shooting, she pushed the owner to implement changes. The gas station, which had been open 24 hours, reduced its hours to close at midnight. It also hired security guards, posted "no loitering" signs, and the owner agreed to conduct background checks on employees and attend community policing meetings.

As of August 2018, Chicago police detectives were still investigating the double homicide, and no arrests had been made in the killings of Jawon Carter and Lavelle Cox. The case remains unsolved, and the gunman has not been publicly identified. Jawon’s mother continues to honor his memory through the work of his foundation, hoping to support other families shattered by similar tragedies.