ENGLEWOOD — Marcus Franklin was getting his life together for his son, who had just turned one, six days before Franklin was gunned down Saturday afternoon in Englewood, his family said.
"No one can say he didn't take care of his boy, because Marcus did," said Franklin's mother, Barbara Gatlin. "He loved that boy, There's no doubt about how much he loved his kid," she said.
Around 12:55 p.m. Saturday, Franklin, 22, of the 700 block of West 61st Street, was standing on the sidewalk in the 7200 block of South Green Street when a gunman approached and opened fire before running away, police said.
Franklin was shot in his neck and chest and taken to Holy Cross Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 1:22 p.m. officials said.
Ahead of his death, Franklin's girlfriend, Christine Bailey, 22, said she would have frequent conversations with Franklin on raising their son, and on their future together.
"He was a good father," Bailey said. "He was getting his life together. He really was."
Torey Adams, 25, a long-time friend of Franklin, was in shock after hearing the news.
"I just saw him for his son's birthday, we were talking about life and sharing our knowledge to better each others lives. All our conversations were about making a better life."
Friends described Franklin as an easy going, funny guy and were in shock after hearing the news of his death.
"It's unbelievable, it [hasn't] set in," said Cynovia Adams, 26. "It doesn't feel real. They took a good man. He was a good man."
Gatlin said the last phone call with her son was a sign that he was ready to change his life.
"I would call him every other day to make sure he was all right" Gatlin said. "I knew nothing about what he did on the streets, but when he came home he never talked about it.
"He was always respectful, he kept that life far from his home," his mother said on Sunday. "Two days ago, it was different conversation, he wanted to out of the streets.
"He called and told me he was tired of the street life, and I told him to come home," Gatlin said.
"It was his choice to stay out there, but he always knew he could come home whenever he wanted," his mother said through tears. "But he never found his way home."
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