SOUTH CHICAGO — Tyshon Anderson, an 18-year-old who was fatally shot in his head Saturday night, had been working to "get his life straightened out," relatives said.
The teen was shot in the 2700 block of East 80th Street — just around the corner from his South Chicago home — about 11:05 p.m. Saturday, police said. Anderson had been standing in a hallway when someone opened fire.
Anderson was rushed in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he pronounced dead at 11:50 p.m., according to authorities.
Police called Anderson a "documented gang member" and said the shooting could have been gang-related. Few other details were available Sunday morning as detectives continued their investigation.
Relatives described Anderson as "joyous," "playful" and "a typical teenager." He liked tinkering with electronics, they said, and could often be found watching TV or playing video games with his siblings.
Anderson had had trouble in school, his family said, and was looking into alternative education programs. He was planning to get a state ID this Monday so he could begin applying for jobs.
“He was trying to get his life straightened out," said Anderson's grandfather, who declined to be named.
One of Anderson's parents — who asked not to be identified by name or gender — said the teen was just released from jail on Nov. 18 and had problems with gangs at school in the past.
“He was trying to find an alternative way," the parent said, as relatives gathered in the family's South Chicago home in the 8000 block of South Marquette Avenue.
The parent fondly recalled Anderson's unique smile — "his mouth would twist a little, it was cute" — and asked others to think twice before pulling a trigger.
"You know, it could easily be your family. So think about that before you do it to somebody else."
