Hanover Park man shot in Chicago was known for helping friends and family
Sami Salaymeh, 27, of Hanover Park, always had a big smile on his face, and would drop everything to help friends and family, those close to him recalled Tuesday.
Salaymeh, a Navy veteran, was shot in Chicago's South Loop near the intersection of 24th Street and Michigan Avenue early Monday morning while he and a 23-year-old woman were sitting in a black pickup truck at a traffic light, according to Chicago police.
Salaymeh and the woman were in the truck about 3:58 a.m. when two people walked up to the vehicle. One of the people, described only as a Hispanic man, opened fire, according to Chicago police.
The man shot Salaymeh twice in the stomach, and the woman was shot in her right leg, police spokesman Kevin Quade said.
The victims drove to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where Salaymeh was pronounced dead at 4:41 a.m. The woman was admitted to the hospital in stable condition.
Roger Hakim of Carol Stream grew up with Salaymeh, and says he had a “contagious smile” that would stretch “from ear to ear.”
“Sami didn't have to try to be funny or have a good time; that's just the way he was,” Hakim said. “If you wanted to laugh, you wanted to have a good time, you hung out with Sami.”
Salaymeh liked to dance, Hakim said, and he could make friends with just about anyone.
Hakim says on Sundays, a group of friends would grab dinner at a local place and watch whatever game was on.
“Just this Sunday we were supposed to watch the basketball game together, but Sami didn't make it out,” Hakim said.
Salaymeh's older brother Omar said Sami was constantly trying to better himself, and always wanted to help out.
“He was focused,” Omar Salaymeh said. “Sami was just always in a good mood and he had a lot of friends.”
Salaymeh graduated from Glenbard North in 2006 and completed basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Base as a Navy seaman recruit in 2008. He served in the Navy until December 2011. He was stationed in San Diego and on the USS Carl Vinson.
Salaymeh was the recipient of a National Defense Service Medal, a Humanitarian Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, according to his Navy bio.
After studying music recording in California, Salaymeh moved back home and from there produced music for Detroit-based R&E Entertainment, which focuses on hip-hop, R&B and soul music. R&E founder Clay Borne said he met Salaymeh in Los Angeles while Salaymeh was there for school.
“Business-wise, he was a great music producer,” Borne said. “He had a knack for sound like no one I've met before. He was very brilliant when it came to producing.”
Police continue to investigate the shooting, and no one is in custody. Police say the shooting does not appear to be gang-related.
Funeral services were being held Tuesday evening at a funeral home in Bridgeview.