A Black teenager who became an anti-gun violence activist after the Parkland shooting was fatally shot Wednesday night in Chicago, according to a report by ABC 7 Chicago.
Delmonte Johnson, 19, was standing near his brother’s basketball practice around 7:30pm when a tan-colored vehicle approached and a person inside fired at Johnson. The young man was shot in the chest and stomach before being taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he later died.
We wake up this morning with heavy hearts and horrible news, #GoodKidsMadCity member #DelmonteJohnson was killed last night, he just turned 19.
— GoodKidsMadCity (@GKMC18) September 6, 2018
Our condolences go out to his family and we will continue our fight to end #GunViolence in Chicago! https://t.co/Nc3zzhaYzZ pic.twitter.com/NOWVAnr5oW
Johnson was a member of the GoodKids MadCity activist organization, which was formed by youth of color from Chicago, Washington D.C., and Baltimore, three of the most violent cities in the United States. The organization focuses on youth employment, school funding, mental health, and gun violence. The group was formed after February’s Parkland school shooting that left 17 people dead.
Johnson’s family said he was also putting together a fundraiser to help kids afford a trip to a Christian camp.
“I lay next to my brother as he was dying in my hands,” Devirgo Johnson, the victim’s brother, said at a vigil on Thursday night. The restaurant where the vigil took place was owned by the family of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, who was fatally shot in 2015.
Thanks for coming last night to support #DelmonteJohnson’s Family in their time of need. Thank you to @davidhogg111 for amplifying his name and always uplifting us. Thank you @RepRobinKelly for providing the food. And thank you to #HadiyaPendleton’s Family for sharing your space! pic.twitter.com/aaFUp2Y764
— GoodKidsMadCity (@GKMC18) September 7, 2018
“I just want peace. Heal the land. We losing too many of our babies. Every time you turn around mommas is crying; mommas is crying for they [sic] babies,” Onique Walker, Johnson’s mother, said.
Walker said her son was passionate about the issue of gun violence in America. Walker also stated that she will continue her son’s work, but that for the immediate future, she’s focused on the fact that she’ll never see her son again. Walker said she believes the solution to gun violence is to vote in politicians that will advocate for gun control measures.
David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland school shooting and an outspoken gun-control activist, shared his sympathies for Johnson and his family on Twitter.
Delmonte Johnson was a 19-year-old who worked with @GKMC18 as an activist to end gun violence in Chicago,
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) September 6, 2018
last night he was shot to death.
This has to end my heart goes out to Delmonte and his family together we will end this. #RememberDelmonteJohnson https://t.co/9JVU4CjVvc
Carlil Pittman, Johnson’s mentor and co-founder of GoodKids MadCity, said to ABC 7 Chicago that he last saw Johnson at an anti-bait truck event that was organized in response to a controversial baiting practice performed by Chicago police. Johnson’s assailant has not yet been found.
H/T ABC 7 Chicago
