Jacob It Norwood, a 24-year-old African-American father of two, was remembered by those who loved him as a fun jokester who was a loving and wonderful son, father, and friend. Known to some by nicknames like "Jake Beezy," he was described as humble, caring, and always willing to help others. He attended ACE Technical High School and other schools including John Marshall and the Academy of Scholastic Achievement, and had once aspired to be an architect. He was a working father, holding jobs at both the Kanela Breakfast Club and Jewel-Osco to support his two young sons. His life was full of promise and centered on his family and friends who cherished his goofy and lovable personality.
On the afternoon of Saturday, January 21, 2017, Jacob was in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on Chicago's West Side. At approximately 1:42 p.m., he was sitting inside a vehicle parked on the 2600 block of West Monroe Street. According to Chicago Police, an unknown individual approached the vehicle on foot, opened fire, and then fled the scene. Jacob was struck by the gunfire. When police and paramedics arrived, they found him unresponsive inside the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that he died from gunshot wounds.
The shooting happened during a period of elevated gun violence in Chicago. The city had experienced its deadliest year in two decades in 2016, and the violence continued into the new year. The week Jacob was killed, at least 18 other people also died as a result of violence in the city, highlighting a public safety crisis that disproportionately affected communities on the South and West Sides. East Garfield Park, like many neighborhoods in these areas, had long struggled with the devastating consequences of frequent shootings.
The Chicago Police Department opened a homicide investigation into Jacob's murder. In the days following the shooting, authorities worked to identify the person responsible for his death. However, no description of a suspect was publicly released, and there were no immediate reports of arrests. The investigation was challenged by the circumstances of the crime, which, like many similar shootings, provided few initial leads for law enforcement to follow.
In the years since Jacob Norwood was killed, his case has grown cold, and no one has been charged with his murder. His death left his two sons without a father and his family and friends grappling with a profound and unresolved loss. Tributes on online memorial pages show that he is still deeply missed. Friends and family members have left messages remembering his loving nature and his role as a great father and friend. As of early 2017, the investigation by the Chicago Police Department remained ongoing, but no new information has been made public. The case is one of many unsolved homicides in the city, a somber statistic representing a family still waiting for justice.
