Jamel L Thomas

Jamel L. Thomas was an 18-year-old Black man from Chicago’s West Side, remembered by those who loved him as a funny, caring, and enthusiastic young man who was a great joy to be around. Known by nicknames like "Bay Bay," "2 Bay Bay," and "Baby 2 BayBizzle," Jamel was described as a great and very respectful kid who was focused on school and work. He attended Marshall High School and worked at a Portillo's restaurant. He was deeply loved by his family and his girlfriend, and his sudden death left a void in the lives of all who knew him.

The evening of Friday, October 14, 2016, turned tragic in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side. At approximately 8 p.m., Jamel was standing with his friend, 20-year-old Jermale Richardson, next to a parked car on the 5500 block of West Congress Parkway. It was the very block where Jamel lived, a place that should have been safe. Suddenly, a grey car pulled alongside them. Someone inside the vehicle opened fire, unleashing a spray of bullets at the two young men. The car then sped off, heading west on Congress Parkway, leaving chaos and devastation in its wake.

The ambush was swift and deadly. Jamel was struck in the head. Emergency services arrived at the scene and rushed him to Stroger Hospital, but his injury was catastrophic. He was pronounced dead at 8:21 p.m., just minutes after the attack. Jermale Richardson had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was also transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:42 p.m. The Cook County medical examiner’s office later confirmed both of their deaths as homicides.

The Chicago Police Department immediately launched an investigation, with Area North detectives assigned to the double homicide. Authorities confirmed the incident was a drive-by shooting, but the motive for the attack was not clear. Police did not release a more detailed description of the grey car or the person or people inside who were responsible for the murders. In the immediate aftermath, no suspects were identified, and no arrests were made, leaving a community shaken by the violent and senseless loss of two young lives.

The Austin community, located on the far west side of Chicago, was an area that experienced a significant number of homicides in 2016, a year marked by a dramatic citywide increase in gun violence. The deaths of Jamel and Jermale added to the grim statistics of a city grappling with a public safety crisis that disproportionately affected young men of color in neighborhoods struggling with disinvestment and violence.

In the years that have passed, the investigation into the murders of Jamel Thomas and Jermale Richardson has grown cold. There have been no public announcements regarding persons of interest, arrests, or charges filed in the case. For the families, the pain of their loss is compounded by the absence of answers and justice. Friends and loved ones have kept Jamel's memory alive through online memorials, lighting virtual candles and sharing recollections of his character. They remember him as a "good person" and a "great kid" whose future was stolen from him. The case officially remains an open and unsolved homicide investigation.