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Neighborhood 'Peacemaker' Killed in West Side Shooting

By DNAinfo Staff on April 19, 2014 10:45am  | Updated on April 19, 2014 2:03pm

 Darren Ray, pictured inset with his two-year-old son Darren Jr. was shot to death Saturday morning nearby this convenience store where family said he would get a cup of coffee every day.
Darren Ray, pictured inset with his two-year-old son Darren Jr. was shot to death Saturday morning nearby this convenience store where family said he would get a cup of coffee every day.
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DNAinfo/Tanveer Ali and Family

EAST GARFIELD PARK — The family of a 42-year-old man slain in broad daylight Saturday morning said he was a neighborhood "peacemaker" simply going through his morning routine. 

"If there was a gang fight, he would come in and stop it," said Reathia Ray, an older sister of the victim, Darren Ray. "His name rang throughout this neighborhood in a good way."

Hours after the shooting, there were few details available about the shooting of Ray, known as "Mymy" throughout the neighborhood.

A man was found unresponsive in an alley in the 2900 block of West Flournoy Street about 9:30 a.m., said Officer Jose Estrada, a police spokesman.

He had been shot multiple times in his body, Estrada said, and was pronounced dead on the scene. Ray was one of five people killed and at least 13 wounded by gunfire Friday night and Saturday.

"I woke up to the sound of four shots," said neighborhood resident Nikki Kelly, 20. "I saw him running in the alley and he collapsed."

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said they had been notified of a death at that location, but couldn't confirm the identity of the victim.

But everyone on that block seemed to know that "Mymy" was shot dead nearby the convenience store where he would stop in every morning for a cup of coffee.

"I grew up with him and he was a really cool dude," said neighborhood resident Clairessia Jackson, 34. "It happened in broad daylight. I'm totally lost why. He was always a cool person."

Ray, who made his living doing odd jobs, devoted himself to his five children, his sister said.

"He loved his children. He was a great father," Reathia Ray said.

His family, who live a couple blocks from the scene, said that he had also recently survived a shooting that occurred at the nearby Harrison Court Apartments, 2900 block of West Harrison Street, in which he was wounded by 10 bullets.

"I just can't believe it happened again," his sister said.

Police couldn't immediately confirm those details.

For a man who has a good reputation in the area to have been shot on two occasions within a matter of months, shocked neighbors and family alike.

"He was a peacemaker. He was able to fix things in this area," Ray's cousin Gregory Davis, said. "He's a mutual friend to all of the individuals. Everybody respected him."