CHICAGO — The family of a Humboldt Park father shot and killed last week has set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for his funeral expenses.
On the account posted Saturday, the family of Fabian Echevarria, who was shot and killed Thursday, described the shooting as another senseless act of violence that has "destroyed so many families in Chicago."
As of Tuesday, the account has raised slightly more than half of its $7,500 goal for funeral expenses and money to benefit Echevarria's 5-year-old son.
Echevarria was gunned down across the street from his home on Thursday. The 24-year-old was shot in his head while sitting in his car around 8 p.m. in the 900 block of North Mozart Street, said Officer Amina Greer, a Chicago Police spokeswoman.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said Echevarria was pronounced dead at 8:10 p.m., officials said.
On the GoFundMe page, family described Echevarria as an "outstanding father, friend, brother and son ... a true family man."
The family said he was not gang affiliated, describing the incident as "just another young man lost to the streets of Chicago for no reason at all."
Family, friends and neighbors stopped by to mourn the loss of Echevarria on Friday morning, giving one another hugs and leaving behind candles — all shocked by the tragedy.
"It's so sad, you can't be safe in front of your place," said Echevarria's longtime friend, Yesenia Garcia. "You don't know when it's going to be your time. But when it's your time, it should be decided by the man upstairs, not by anybody on the streets."
The shooting set off a lively debate and discussion on EveryBlock regarding neighborhood divisions and safety after the fatal shooting. A CAPS meeting for the area where the shooting occurred is set for the Near West District's Beat 1211 on April 7 in the St. Helen School basement, 2345 W. Augusta Ave.
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