“No parent should ever have to bury their child.”
That was one message as friends and relatives of 17-year-old Karl Dennison gathered Wednesday evening at the spot where he was killed, and sent dozens of balloons skyward in his memory.
Dennison was one of five teenagers shot on Sunday evening near a gas station at Green Bay Road and Foster Street. The other four victims, all ages 14-18, were wounded, one critically.
Evanston Police say the incident was a targeted shooting. No suspects have been named.
A woman who identified herself as Dennison’s aunt told the crowd of about 75 people that “these babies are losing their lives for nothing.”
Dennison was reportedly a student at Niles North High School. The other teens are believed to have attended school in Evanston or Skokie. No names of the wounded have been released.
Another of Dennison’s relatives told Evanston Now the purpose of the vigil and launch was “to keep his name alive and hopefully help bring justice for him.”
Evanston Police say all of the victims knew each other.
Some of those at the balloon launch did not know any of the teens, but their children did.
Maricela Walker brought her 14-year old daughter to the memorial. Walker said her daughter goes to school with some of the wounded, and also knew the young man who was killed.
“It hurts,” Walker said, because “it could have easily been” her own daughter, “just hanging out with friends, ” who was hit by a bullet.