Man, 28, fatally shot outside Roseland outreach center founded by Arne Duncan, police say

A man who was involved with an anti-violence organization co-founded by Arne Duncan was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon outside the group’s office on the South Side.

The 28-year-old was walking through the parking lot of Chicago CRED’s office at 1050 E. 95th St. about 12:10 p.m. when he was confronted by two men, according to Chicago police. One of them drew a gun and fatally shot the man. He died at the scene, according to Chicago Fire Department officials, but his identity was not been released by the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Chicago CRED’s Duncan, the former CPS CEO and U.S. secretary of education under President Barack Obama, and Laurene Powell Jobs, a billionaire businesswoman, said the victim was involved with the group for the last nine months.

“He came to us because he wanted a way out of his life on the streets and had made great progress toward that goal,” Duncan said in a statement issued after Wednesday’s shooting. “Because Chicago CRED targets the individuals at highest risk of shooting or being shot, we live with this possibility every day.

“Our thoughts go to his family and friends as well our staff that has been traumatized by the loss. In his honor, we redouble our efforts to give young people at risk the chance for a safe, rewarding life,” the statement continued.

Chicago CRED works with a “holistic approach” and “proven models — street outreach, life coaching, and counseling, violence prevention, workforce development, advocacy and prevention — to create transformative change in the South and West Side communities of Chicago.”

About 50 people, many wearing Chicago CRED shirts, were gathered outside the building on 95th Street Wednesday afternoon as CPD detectives and evidence technicians processed the crime scene in the parking lot directly east of the building.

Among them was Duncan, Chicago CRED’s managing director.

As police personnel worked in the taped-off parking lot, a woman arrived at the scene, saying she was the mother of the deceased.

“I did everything humanly possible,” she told another woman at the scene. “He always said he was the first one who made me a momma.”

On the south side of 95th, longtime neighborhood resident Nori McCoy stopped for a few minutes before continuing on his way to a friend’s nearby music studio, The Ice Palace.

McCoy, who said his brother was killed in a shooting in south suburban Markham in 2021, noted that the funeral for slain CPD Officer Aréanah Preston was being held less than two miles away when Wednesday’s shooting occurred.

“It’s just like life don’t mean (expletive) in Chicago, man,” McCoy said.

No one was arrested and detectives are investigating, police said.