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Humboldt Park Man Slain Friday 'Loved His Kids,' Mother Says

By Mauricio Peña | April 19, 2015 3:38pm
 Courtney Jackson was trying to get his life together before he was shot in his chest, his family said.
Courtney Jackson
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AUSTIN —  The man who was shot and killed in Humboldt Park Friday was trying to get his life together, his mother said.

Courtney Jackson, 36, who lived with his girlfriend in Humboldt Park, loved his children, his mother Jean Ray said.

"He loved being around his kids, and playing with them," she said. "If there's one thing I knew about my son is he loved his children and he loved his mother."

Ahead of Friday's shooting, the father of three children, a nine-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 2 and 10, was trying to find a job and move his life forward, his mother said.

"Courtney had some trouble in the past but he was trying to get everything together," Ray said.

Around 10:50 p.m. on Friday, Jackson was sitting in the passenger seat of a car with a 35-year-old man in the 1100 block of North Springfield Avenue when someone walked up and fired shots in their direction, said Officer Janel Sedevic, a Chicago police spokeswoman.

Jackson was shot in his chest and the 35-year-old was shot in his neck. They drove themselves to Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center and were later transferred to John H. Stroger Hospital where Jackson was pronounced at 1:20 a.m., officials said.

"They were after the driver," Ray said. "The guy came up to the driver side window and shot him three times in the neck and one of those bullets went through his neck and into Courtney's chest."

"When I got the call, I couldn't say anything," his mother said. "I just got out of bed to identify my son's body."

On Saturday, several friends and family stopped by to offer their condolences.

"I didn't know my son knew so many people, they kept stopping by to let me know he had a good heart," his mother said.

Jackson last contacted his mother through a text message on Friday morning.

"On most mornings he would send me a text message to wish me a good morning," Ray said.

"I wish I would have responded to the last text message on Friday. I'm going to miss those the most," Ray said.

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