BELMONT CRAGIN — Courtney Copeland took no joy in the city's polarizing nickname, "Chi-raq." He vowed to improve things: "I'm going to make Chicago a better place one person at a time!" he said in an Instagram post.
Copeland, 22, a former Jones College prep basketball player who worked as a representative for World Ventures travel company, was an inspiration, friends and co-workers said. But his life was cut short Friday morning.
Around 1:15 a.m. that day, a man — later identified as Copeland — got out of a BMW sedan in the 5500 block of West Grand Avenue and approached two police officers, telling them he'd been shot, said Officer Ana Pacheco, a Chicago Police spokeswoman.
The officers called an ambulance, which brought the man to Illinois Masonic Hospital where he was listed in critical condition, Pacheco said. He was later pronounced dead.
Betty Urbina, a coworker and friend of Copeland's, was one of those people the Cicero native inspired.
"It's devastating. He was making the world a better place. We are all so broken up about this," Urbina said. "He was doing big things, helping hundreds of people change their lives. Showing people how to hustle legitimately."
Friends said they knew of no reason he would have been targeted and questioned whether he was attacked because of his car. Police did not give a motive and said no arrests have been made in the case.
The BMW Copeland was driving was something he often proudly showed off, friends said. The car, friends said, was a gift from work because he had done so well at at his job, where he had worked since 2014.
"We have worked together in this organization, we've gone to training together, traveled with friends together and spent time building each other up in character," Urbina said. "He was so focused on his goals and dreams."
Copeland also played basketball at Jones College Prep, from which he graduated in 2012.
Jarard Nathaniel was Copeland's basketball coach at Jones. He remembers his former player as someone his players looked up to.
"He was the hardest working and most upbeat kid I've ever had," Nathaniel said. "He was out of shape his sophomore year and he dropped 45 pounds in one summer. That's how driven he was."
Nathaniel says the work ethic Copeland had in high school translated well to his career.
"He was never the best student or player but kids followed his lead," Nathaniel said. "That's how he was so successful at World Ventures."
When word go out about Copeland's passing, friends and well wishers filled his Facebook page with somber messages.
"I swear, you will never be forgotten. You're a legend in my eyes & the whole FAMILY!! I love you Courtney Copeland ! Thank you for being such an inspiration & always believing in me! RIP," read one post.
'We weren't that close bro - but from the talks we had you were definitely on the right path. You've impacted many lives and because of you a lot of people will forever be grateful for that. I wish we could've met in person next month like we planned, but the universe had other plans for you. Sending positive vibes and energy to your family during this time bro. We'll continue to spread the message of the 3F's. Fun, Freedom and Fulfillment. But for now, Sleep in Peace Courtney Copeland."
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