HERMOSA — Neighbors are banding together for a peace walk after Diego Villada, a 15-year-old Kelvyn Park High School student, was shot and killed earlier this month.
Around 12:35 p.m. April 1, Diego was in an alley near the 2100 block of North Tripp Avenue when two people confronted him and fired shots, hitting him in his head, police said.
The boy was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition, police said. He was pronounced dead two days later, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
According to family friend Janette Jara, Diego lived with his mother and older sister in the 1200 block of North Tripp Avenue and was walking to the store when the "horrific" shooting occurred.
She said Diego died in an "unseen turf war."
Chicago police said Diego had no gang affiliation.
"He frequented the stores and barber shops for the last 10 years. We all lost something on April 1, 2017," Jara said in an email.
Jara launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Diego's mother cover the cost of a funeral. A mother herself, Jara described Diego's mother as a cancer survivor who works 80 hours a week to make ends meet.
"For her, well, she lives day to day. Odd jobs to make end meets. 80 hour weeks to care for her two teenagers. Two teenagers down to 1. A sad sister who is already at a tender age. A mother who is physically ill due to the stress. She needs some help, World. Please help me help her," Jara wrote.
In the campaign, Jara described several memories of Diego: playing ball with kids much younger than he was; helping others carry groceries and always saying hello to Jara's children even if he saw them "20 times a day."
"He was never loud or rude. Always calm and collected. He was respectful and genuine. He was a kind, quiet soul that God called home too soon. What's left? A sad community. A community in fear," Jara wrote.
As of Tuesday morning, the online fundraising campaign had raised $2,110 toward its $10,000 goal.
"All that's left is a broken mother who is feeling helpless and has lost her baby boy. We can help. I know we can. It would mean the world to our community knowing we were able to help someone in the toughest of tough situations," Jara wrote.
At 4 p.m. Saturday, family, friends and neighbors will get together for a peace walk at Nixon Elementary School, 2121 N. Keeler Ave.
The group will walk to Kelvyn Park High School, which Diego attended, and end at Kelvyn Park. Folks are encouraged to bring banners and signs.
