CHICAGO (WLS) — Students at Hansberry College Prep are remembering their classmate who was killed just days after he graduated from the South Side, Chicago high school.
The teen was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as 17-year-old DeAngelo Miles.
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The school’s principal said the 17-year-old football team captain was an outstanding student-athlete.
“We have to stop losing our young people,” Hansberry College Prep Principal Kashawndra Wilson said. “This amazing young Black boy had unlimited potential that was snatched.”
Principal Wilson said she’s still trying to make sense of what unfolded.
Miles was one of her students, and had graduated from the Auburn Gresham school just days ago, with the school posting a picture to honor him.
The shooting happened around 3:08 a.m. in the 11900-block of South Wallace Street in West Pullman Sunday, Chicago police said.
Miles was found shot in the head; he later died. A motive for the shooting is unclear.
“From our perspective, there was no trouble in school. We don’t have any details as to what and why,” Wilson said. “This is a devastating loss for our community. The baby just graduated last Thursday.”
Principal Wilson said Miles was part of the football team, and wanted to join the Navy after graduating high school.
For now, staff and his peers are honoring his life and cherishing memories of him.
“Peers loved DeAngelo,” Wilson said. “He often would do TikToks and interviews of students because that’s just who he was. He was destined to be on someone’s TV. He truly was, smile, heart of gold.”
She said he was charismatic, funny and a leader at school.
The principal said Monday has been a very difficult day for the school. While seniors graduated last week, the rest of the school has classes through next week.
The school offered grief counseling to students and staff all day.
They say they want to support everyone who is hurting over the loss, but also celebrate his short life.
The school also welcomed back the recently graduated seniors, many of them Miles’ friends, to talk to counselors Monday.
No one is in custody; Chicago police continue to investigate.
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