Hanover Park teen shot, killed near home

Family members of a 16-year-old boy fatally shot less than a block from his Hanover Park home Saturday night are struggling to come to grips with his death.

Jesus Sanchez, 16, of the 7100 block of Mulberry Street, was pronounced dead at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, officials from the Cook County medical examiner's office said Sunday. He suffered multiple gun shot wounds; an autopsy was set for Sunday.

"I don't know what happened because me and my wife stayed inside the house," said the boy's father, also named Jesus Sanchez, 36. "I heard the noise. I don't see nothing. I see my son (lying) on the street."

Sanchez's father and mother, Evelia, 36, and three siblings were getting ready to go to the store around 9 p.m. Saturday when they heard the shots, said Lupe Ramirez, 17, Sanchez's half-sister.

"They thought it was some fireworks," said Ramirez, who lives in the same house.

Sanchez was returning home from playing soccer with his twin brother, Antonio, and friends at the Parkwood Elementary School park as he did every day, Ramirez said.

Ramirez said Antonio came inside the house scared and speechless.

Sanchez had been shot in the torso and died instantly, she said.

"(Jesus) loved to play soccer," Ramirez said, tearing up. "He wanted to be a professional soccer player. It's pretty hard actually right now. He was an amazing kid."

Ramirez said Evelia Sanchez says she hopes this is a dream and she wakes up to find her son by her side.

Ramirez said Sanchez had hopes of rejoining Gifford Street High School in Elgin this year after he was expelled last year from Elgin Area School District U-46 for stabbing another student. Sanchez received five years probation for the stabbing, she said.

Police were unable to provide details on Sanchez's death, and it is unclear whether the killing is linked to the stabbing incident.

Sanchez's cousin, Jesus Jimenez, 20, of Streamwood said he didn't know whether Sanchez was involved in any gang activity, and that he tried to stay out of trouble.

"He was a nice guy," Jimenez said. "Hanover Park is pretty bad now. There is no doubt there is a lot of gang activity."

Funeral services for Sanchez are pending.