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Family Reeling After Father of Three Shot Dead Near South Austin Home

 Lance Stanton, 25 of the 5400 block of West Haddon Street was pronounced dead at 1:36 a.m., Monday.
Father of Three Killed in South Austin
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SOUTH AUSTIN — Alvin Stanton spent Monday morning staring at the blood-stained sidewalk where his little brother was shot dead just hours before.

Overnight, the 44-year-old stood near the same spot, surrounded by police and consoling his mother — his brother's lifeless body in front of them.

"It's indescribable to see your baby brother just laying there," Stanton said. "I started asking, 'why?  why him?' Then a lot of anger began to settle in."

Around 1 a.m. Monday, police responded to a call of shots fired in the 5400 block of West Haddon Street and found 25-year-old Lance Stanton unresponsive on the scene with multiple gunshot wounds.

He was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Neighbors said they heard loud gunshots reverberating down the block when the shooting occurred. There were so many rounds fired, they figured an automatic weapon had been used.

Police said Lance Stanton had documented gang ties.

His family, however, said he was an innocent bystander on his way home when a group of people came out of the gangway and fired shots.

"It wasn't gang-related or drug-related. It was just some guys out being wild," the slain man's older brother said.

He described Lance Stanton as a family man who took care of their dad, who was paralyzed by a stroke four years ago.

Before the shooting, Lance Stanton spent time with his sons, ages 5 and 3, and his baby daughter, who turned one at the end of April.

Despite the tragedy, the Stanton boys' mother was in the kitchen Monday, cooking her slain son's favorite meal: spaghetti and ribs.

"Mama cooked every Sunday and we all meet up for dinner," Alvin Stanton said. "[Now] his spot at the table will be empty."

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