Clarence L Coakley

Clarence L. Coakley, a 16-year-old African-American boy from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, was a student known for his loving, caring, and happy personality. Remembered by friends and family as funny and playful, he was someone who was cool to be around and brought joy to those who knew him. On social media and memorial pages, loved ones often referred to him by the nickname "Durk," sharing memories of his positive spirit and lamenting a life cut tragically short.

On the afternoon of Monday, November 7, 2016, Clarence was in the West Garfield Park neighborhood on the city's West Side. At about 3:30 p.m., as he stood in the 4600 block of West Lake Street, an unknown individual approached him on foot. Without warning, the person opened fire, shooting Clarence repeatedly in his upper torso. The assailant then fled the scene. Chicago Police and paramedics responded to calls of a person shot, but the wounds were too severe. Clarence was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:50 p.m. An autopsy conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.

The investigation was handled by Area North detectives with the Chicago Police Department. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police had no one in custody and had not publicly identified any suspects or a possible motive for the attack. The shooting happened in broad daylight on a city street, but details about what led to the confrontation remain unclear. Detectives canvassed the area for witnesses and any available surveillance footage that might have captured the shooter's image or escape route, but no arrests were announced in the days that followed.

Clarence's death was part of a devastating wave of gun violence that swept through Chicago in 2016, a year that saw more than 750 homicides, making it one of the deadliest in the city's recent history. The loss was deeply felt by his family and community, who mourned a young life full of potential. His name was later read on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2017, along with the names of dozens of other young victims from Chicago, as a congressman pleaded for legislative action to address gun violence.

In the years since his murder, Clarence has been remembered through online memorials where friends and family continue to light virtual candles and share messages of love. They recall his character, describing him as a "real one" who is "never forgotten." The case remains an open and active investigation with the Chicago Police Department. As of late 2016, no suspects had been publicly identified or taken into custody. Authorities have not released any new information regarding persons of interest or potential leads in the case.