Jamaal E Barney

Friends and family remember Jamaal E. Barney as a man who was full of life and had a great vibe. The 22-year-old Black man was known to his loved ones as "Meek Maal" or "Maal Maal" and was described as smart, sweet, wise, and intelligent. He attended Lane Tech College Prep High School and Northern Illinois University and worked at Fisher Clinical Services. Those who knew him said he was the "life of the party" and a "realist," a young man focused on making money and building a future. His life, filled with promise and affection, was cut short in a burst of gunfire on a late summer night in Chicago.

The night of Friday, September 4, 2015, marked the beginning of a notoriously violent Labor Day weekend in the city. At about 11:40 p.m., Jamaal was standing on a sidewalk in the North Lawndale neighborhood, on the 1800 block of South Drake Avenue. Suddenly, a gold-colored SUV drove by, and an occupant opened fire. The vehicle sped off into the night, leaving chaos in its wake. Jamaal, who lived in the 1600 block of South Central Park Avenue, was struck multiple times.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and transported Jamaal to Mount Sinai Hospital. He had sustained devastating gunshot wounds to his chest, abdomen, and legs. Despite the efforts of medical staff, his injuries were too severe. A little over half an hour after the shooting, at 12:19 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, Jamaal E. Barney was pronounced dead. His killing was one of two fatal drive-by shootings that occurred within just 20 minutes of each other on the West and Southwest sides of the city that night.

The Chicago Police Department launched a homicide investigation into Jamaal's death. Detectives canvassed the area for evidence and witnesses, but the initial reports did not name any persons of interest or describe the shooter beyond someone inside the gold SUV. The shooting was part of a wave of violence over the holiday weekend that, by its end, would leave at least eight people dead and 46 others wounded across Chicago.

In the years since Jamaal's murder, there have been no public announcements regarding arrests or charges in his case. The investigation remains open but unsolved, one of many homicides in the city that leave families waiting for justice. The lack of resolution compounds the grief for those who loved him.

On a memorial webpage, hundreds of digital candles have been lit in Jamaal's honor, a testament to the many lives he touched. Friends and family have left messages expressing how much they miss him, with one simply writing, "We miss you maal." These tributes paint a picture of a cherished young man whose violent and untimely death left a profound void in his community.

As of September 2015, the case into the murder of Jamaal Barney remains open. No reward has been publicly offered, and authorities have not released any new information. The identity of the person or people inside the gold SUV who took his life remains a mystery.