Chicago police responded to a deadly drive‑by shooting Tuesday morning in the South Shore neighborhood, where a 16‑year‑old boy was gunned down while walking along the 7800 block of South Coles Avenue, near the intersection of 78th Street and Coles Avenue. The shooting occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m., prompting a rapid police response to the residential block located just east of South Shore Drive.
According to investigators, the teen was walking northbound on Coles Avenue when a white vehicle approached with three to four occupants inside. One of the individuals inside the vehicle opened fire, striking the boy multiple times in the head and body before the car sped away from the scene. Police confirmed that no other individuals were injured during the attack.
Officers arriving on scene found the victim unresponsive on the sidewalk and immediately requested emergency medical assistance. The teen was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where doctors attempted life‑saving measures. Despite their efforts, he was later pronounced deceased.
Detectives canvassed the area for surveillance footage and potential witnesses, focusing on nearby homes, a local church, and businesses along the block. The shooting occurred in broad daylight, increasing the likelihood that cameras captured the suspect vehicle’s movements before or after the attack. Police have not yet released a motive, and no arrests have been announced.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victim as 16‑year‑old Kenyae Franklin, a South Shore resident whose death has intensified community concerns about youth violence in the area. Authorities noted that Franklin was alone at the time of the shooting, and investigators are working to determine whether he was targeted or struck randomly.
Chicago police have urged anyone with information to contact Area Two detectives or submit anonymous tips through CrimeStoppers. The intersection of 78th Street and South Coles Avenue remains a focal point of the investigation as officers continue gathering evidence in the killing of Kenyae Franklin.