Damian Williams

Damian Williams, a 22-year-old Black man known for his calm and happy demeanor, was a beloved presence in the lives of those who knew him. Friends and family remember him as someone who was always laid back, funny, and quick to smile, bringing joy to everyone around him. Known by nicknames including "Lil Scrapp," Damian was a father who his older brother, James, lovingly called the "Father of the Year." He attended Byford/Burson school and Douglass High School and lived just a few blocks from where his life would be tragically cut short in his own West Side neighborhood.

The evening of Thursday, June 12, 2014, began with a simple, everyday errand. According to his brother, Damian had just left his home on the 5900 block of West Augusta Boulevard to go get some dinner. “He had just left like 10 minutes before,” James Williams later recalled. “It all happened so fast.” At approximately 8:55 p.m., Damian was standing with two other men in front of a food mart in the 5700 block of West Augusta Boulevard in Chicago's Austin neighborhood.

Without warning, a tan Lincoln MKZ sedan traveling east on Augusta pulled up alongside the group. Someone inside the vehicle opened fire, spraying bullets at the three men before the car sped away, continuing eastbound down the street. The sudden burst of violence shattered the evening quiet and left chaos in its wake. The crime scene was later centered around the doorway of the market where the men had been standing, with police marking off the area with red and yellow tape.

Damian was struck multiple times in the chest. A second man, who was 23 years old, was also shot in the chest, groin, and left leg. The third man with them was not physically injured. Emergency services rushed both wounded men to Mount Sinai Hospital. The 23-year-old was admitted in critical condition. Tragically, Damian Williams’ injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:43 p.m., less than an hour after he had been shot. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office officially confirmed his identity and cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

The shooting was one of several that plagued Chicago that day, during which at least eight people were shot across the city. The Chicago Police Department launched a homicide investigation into Damian’s death, searching for the tan Lincoln and the person or persons responsible for the drive-by attack. Witnesses confirmed the vehicle's description and its direction of travel after the shooting, but the assailant or assailants vanished.

In the years since Damian Williams was killed, his family has been left with a profound sense of loss and unanswered questions. His brother’s memory of their last interaction highlights the suddenness of the tragedy that tore a father and beloved family member from their lives. Friends and loved ones have lit candles and left messages on online memorial pages, remembering a young man who "was alwayz happy" and "never argued."

As of this writing, no arrests have been made in the murder of Damian Williams, and police have not publicly identified any suspects or persons of interest. His case is one of many unsolved homicides in Chicago, a painful statistic for a family still awaiting justice. The investigation remains open, and the search for answers continues for the people who loved a young man who was just going out to get dinner.