GREATER GRAND CROSSING — Antwone Price, 11, was walking with a friend near his home Wednesday when the two boys discovered a discarded gun.
The boys brought it home and showed it to Antwone's family members, according to Keith Brookshire, the boy's cousin, who recounted the story to DNAinfo Chicago Thursday afternoon. An uncle went to take the gun when it went off.
"Somehow it discharged in the transaction," said Brookshire. "Then, he fell."
The shooting happened Wednesday night in the 7400 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, according to police and morgue officials. Antwone was shot in the stomach and taken to Comer Children's Hospital before he was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m., records show.
Police took into custody a family member in connection with the shooting, but no charges have been filed, according to Officer Janel Sedevic, Chicago Police spokeswoman.
On Thursday, Price's family and neighbors stood outside the home, some wondering outloud how this tragedy could happen to a boy with such a promising future.
"He was beyond his years," Brookshire said. "The boy had a job since he was seven."
More than a few who stopped at the family's house Thursday described Price as an accomplished and driven boy. Brookshire said Price knew he wanted to be a funeral director and so he worked at nearby Callahan Funeral Home to learn the tricks of the trade.
"He made the arrangements for my mom's funeral," another family member said.
Rashaudia Nichols, 11, was rollerblading down her block Thursday afternoon when she stopped in front of the house where her friend Antwone lived.
Rashaudia heard about a boy getting shot, but she said the tragedy didn't hit home until she saw his photo on the news.
"I was hoping it was another Antwone, but I cried when I watched the news," said Rashaudia, as she tried to fight back tears.
"He was just on our porch yesterday, talking to our mom," said Shia Nichols, Rashaudia's 13-year-old sister. "He liked to goof around, play a lot. He had a lot of friends around here."
The girls' father, Alonzo Nichols, is the pastor of a church on the end of Price's block. He visited the family's home Thursday, showing off a photo he had of Price helping him distribute flyers around the community.
"He was a great help," Nichols said.
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