CHICAGO — At an age when many people are trying to find themselves, Terrance Wright knew who he was.
Despite the taunting, despite the bullying, Wright lived his life openly gay. And despite the challenges, the 18-year-old made no attempt to hide who he was, according to family.
He was in his second year attending the Banner Academy South High School in South Deering, according to Tywan Bouldin, his uncle. Wright relocated there to get away from bullying at his former school.
“He just took it,” Bouldin said. “That was his way of life.”
Wright often suffered bullying because of his orientation, Bouldin said.
“Everybody knew he was gay in the area,” Bouldin said. “They had been picking on him.”
Despite his attempts to keep his head high, violence still caught up with Wright as he was walking home from school about 3:40 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the 9900 block of South Yates Avenue.
A group of men set upon him, attempting to rob him, according to police and family members.
Wright was shot in the chest and died later that day, police said.
He loved rap and Nicki Minaj, as well as dancing, Bouldin said.
Wright kept to himself and did not bother anybody unless they bothered him, Bouldin said.
“For him to go away so soon is crazy,” Wright’s uncle said. “He had a whole life to live in front of him.”
Jarone Carter, 16, faces first-degree murder, attempted robbery and unlawful use of a weapon charges in Wright's death, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
A 14-year-old faces similar charges but is not being identified because he is being charged as a juvenile, according to state’s attorney’s office representative Tandra Simonton.
