In the pre-dawn hours of June 1, 2025, the quiet of Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood was shattered by a single gunshot that claimed the life of 17-year-old Deangelo Miles. Found unresponsive in an alley in the 11900 block of South Wallace Street, the recent Hansberry College Prep High School graduate suffered a fatal wound to the head. The grim discovery, made by Chicago police around 3:08 a.m., has left a family in mourning and a community grappling with yet another loss to gun violence. As officers arrived at the scene, they found no weapons and no immediate witnesses, leaving investigators with few clues to unravel the circumstances of this tragedy.
Deangelo Miles was described by those who knew him as a vibrant young man with a promising future. Friends and family gathered later that day near the alley where he was killed, creating a makeshift memorial adorned with candles, flowers, and photographs. The outpouring of grief underscored the profound impact Miles had on those around him. His loved ones spoke of his kindness, his aspirations, and the light he brought to their lives—a light extinguished far too soon. For many, his death is not just a personal loss but a stark reminder of the persistent violence that plagues Chicago’s South Side.
The Chicago Police Department has yet to make arrests in connection with the shooting, and the investigation remains active. Detectives are combing the area for surveillance footage and reaching out to potential witnesses who may have seen or heard something in the early morning hours. Authorities are exploring whether Miles was specifically targeted or if the shooting was a random act of violence, a question that lingers heavily over the community. The absence of clear answers has only deepened the anguish for Miles’s family, who are left to navigate their grief while seeking justice.
West Pullman, like many South Side neighborhoods, has long contended with elevated levels of gun violence. The death of Deangelo Miles adds to a troubling pattern of shootings involving young people, prompting renewed urgency among community leaders and activists. Many are calling for comprehensive solutions to address the root causes of such violence, including systemic poverty, lack of economic opportunity, and limited access to mental health resources. Local organizations have emphasized the need for expanded youth outreach programs that provide mentorship, job training, and safe spaces for young people to thrive. Initiatives like the city’s Rapid Employment and Development Initiative (READI), which targets individuals at high risk of violence with job opportunities and cognitive behavioral therapy, have shown promise in reducing shootings, but advocates argue that far greater investment is needed.
City officials, under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration, have pointed to recent declines in overall crime, including a 37% drop in robberies and a 57% decrease in carjackings as of early 2025. Yet, the persistent loss of young lives like Miles’s underscores the uneven progress in tackling gun violence. Community violence intervention programs, which deploy trained outreach workers to mediate conflicts and connect at-risk youth with services, have been credited with reducing shootings by 41% in some areas. Still, the challenge remains immense, particularly in neighborhoods where systemic inequities have fostered cycles of violence.
As the investigation into Deangelo Miles’s death continues, the Chicago Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that tips can be submitted anonymously through their tip line or online portal. Authorities stress that even minor details could prove pivotal in solving the case. For now, the West Pullman community mourns a young man whose potential was cut short, while holding onto hope that answers will emerge, bringing some measure of peace to a grieving family and a wounded neighborhood.
