Teen killed in South Side shooting days after graduating from Chicago high school

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.

He also had a summer job with the Chicago Park District.

His family said he was attending an after-prom party with friends nearby before the fatal shooting.

They said police told them it may have been a robbery that took a deadly turn.

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.

His mother, Kevina Fleming, said Miles was a boy to be proud of. He got good grades, and was determined to be successful in life.

He was one of five children.

Relatives say they are hoping for answers.

Miles' mother says now a part of her feels like it's missing, and she can't get her mind around why someone would do this to her son.

She says the silence in their home is only amplifying the heartbreak from his loss.

"That was my baby. They took my baby," Fleming said.

Fleming says the last time she saw her 17-year-old son was as he was on his way to attend a friend's prom.

She said Miles called a younger brother from the after-party just after midnight Sunday to say he was on his way home.

But he never made it.

Fleming said Miles was shot in the neck.

"They robbed him, took his shoes, his money, his phone," Fleming said. "So, I lost a part of myself by losing him. He was like the life of the house, crack jokes with everybody, make everybody laugh."

And now that joy, she says, was also stolen from her.

"Now I know I am not going to be able to see him no more. You know, so, at this point, it's just, like, I don't even know. I don't know," Fleming said.

Fleming is now left with planning a funeral after just celebrating a graduation.

The principal said Monday was 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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