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Gerald Calhoun, Slain Englewood Man, 'Was Coming From Seeing His Kids'

By Quinn Ford | May 6, 2014 7:04am | Updated on May 6, 2014 3:45pm
 Gerald Calhoun, 29, died after a drive-by shooting Monday evening in Englewood, police said.
Gerald Calhoun
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ENGLEWOOD — Gerald Calhoun was returning home from visiting his 9-year-old daughter when he was shot and killed Monday night in Englewood.

The 29-year-old was in a car with two friends driving southbound in the 5900 block of South Morgan Street at about 7:30 p.m. when a white car pulled alongside them and someone inside began shooting, police and family said.

Calhoun, who was a passenger in the car, was shot in the chest. He was taken to John H. Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

One of Calhoun's friends, a 35-year-old man, was also shot. He was taken to St. Bernard Hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his right leg. Police said the man was in good condition. The third man in the car was not hurt.

Tuesday morning, a make-shift memorial of balloons and teddy bears sat at the corner of West 59th Street and South Morgan Street. Calhoun was shot across the intersection, just outside the Holy Rock Baptist Church, authorities said.

The 29-year-old had lived in Englewood his whole life. He attended Paul Robeson High School and grew up in the 700 block of West 59th Street, a few blocks down from where he was killed.

The youngest of three — his sister died at 7 months-old — Calhoun acted like the baby of the family, said his mother, Darlene Calhoun.

"He was spoiled. He was spoiled," she said, smiling. "He was nice but if you made him mad he'd give you attitude."

Calhoun's father, Lee Brown, agreed.

"He loved people, but he definitely didn't let nobody run over him," he said. "He'd just tell you like it is."

Brittany Dupree, Calhoun's cousin, remembered him first as a good father to his 9-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son.

"He's good to his kids," she said. "He was a good father."

Following the shooting, authorities said they believed both Calhoun and the 35-year-old man wounded in the shooting were both documented gang members. Both Brown and Calhoun deny that.

"How's it gang-related when you just came from seeing your kids?" Brown asked inside their family home Tuesday. "It's always like that when you're in a black neighborhood...It's always gotta be something.

"They can say what they want to say," he continued. "I know who he was."

Calhoun said she and Brown said they both want justice for their son but said they do not want to see any more violence.

"I don't wish nobody get killed or anything like that," Brown said. "There's a lot of mothers out here hurting."

Calhoun said she believes police will find her son's killer but said Tuesday she was still waiting for answers.

"I still can't figure out why they killed my son," she said. "That's the hardest part."

Six others were wounded in shootings across the city since Monday evening, police said.