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Former Chicago Bear develops emergency response technology,
Vol. 31 No. 17
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April 19, 2017
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austinweeklynews.com
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PAGE 8
Also serving Garfield Park
When a funeral becomes a revival
The aunt of Byron McKinney Jr., killed April 7 in a drive-by shooting, urged prayer for survivors By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
Candice Redmond was fighting something as she struggled through her remarks during the April 15 funeral service for her first-born nephew, Byron McKinney Jr. McKinney, 24, was killed in an April 7 drive-by shooting that happened on the corner of Central Avenue and West Corcoran Place at around 1:30 p.m. Five other people, all bystanders, were injured. Redmond reminisced on the young man who was nicknamed BJ or Lil B-Y by those who knew him. According to his obituary, McKinney was the “first baby boy on Van Buren where everyone would pick him up and buy him things.” McKinney was born on September 30, 1992 to Charlene Redmond and Byron McKinney Sr. As a 2-year-old, the younger McKinney was infatuated with the Lion King. Each time he would watch the movie, he would corral all the adults in the house so that they could watch and sing songs along with him. “BJ was loved by many,” Candice said during the Saturday service, which was held at See FUNERAL on page 4
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
FREE HUGS: Dozens of people marched from Central Avenue and Lake Street to the corner of Central and West Corcoran Place during an April 12 march against violence. On the afternoon of April 7, 24-year-old Byron McKinney Jr. was killed in a drive-by shooting at the corner.
Austin, Oak Park residents rally against violence The demonstration was prompted by a drive-by shooting in Austin By TIM INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
“Stop the violence. Stop the shooting,” the marchers chanted as they headed up Central Avenue toward the intersection of Corcoran Place on April 7. The march toward the high-traffic business district in Austin was in response to the grisly midday shooting at the intersection that killed 24-year-old Byron McKinney Jr. and wounded five others.
Several dozen people turned out to the rally and vigil on Wednesday, April 13, to send the message that violence will not be tolerated in their neighborhood. Anthony Clark, director and founder of Suburban Unity Alliance, said his organization and others are working to show that, “Austin is not in this fight alone; Oak Park is not in this fight alone.” “We’re taking over this corner,” he said. “We’re letting everybody know this is not your corner. Violence does not own this
block. We own this block.” Clark said the rally also aimed to send the message that neighbors are working to bring McKinney’s killers to justice but also those of Elijah Sims, an Oak Park River Forest High School student who was shot and killed in August. Sims’ mother, Sharita Galloway, also attended the rally saying that any time there is a shooting in the neighborhood it is a
Austin Chamber of Commerce on the move... 773.854.5848 • www.austinchicagochamber.com
See RALLY on page 6