Teen killed in South Loop shooting remembered as ‘no person to start fights’

Dozens gathered Wednesday to release balloons in remembrance of Jeremy Smith, 17, who was fatally shot Saturday night in Chicago.

By Kade Heather

A group holds blue and white ballons and a large photo of 17-year-old Jeremy Smith during an outdoor vigil. — Mourners gather at a balloon release and vigil for 17-year-old Jeremy Smith at the South Side YMCA Wednesday. He was fatally shot Saturday during a mass gathering of teens in the South Loop.

Jeremy “Jermo” Smith could be seen almost every day playing basketball at the South Side YMCA in Woodlawn.

That’s where dozens gathered earlier this week to release balloons in remembrance of Jeremy, 17, who was killed in a shooting last weekend in the South Loop that also wounded a 15-year-old boy. Jeremy was among a massive crowd of young people, described in a police report as a “teen trend” event that had been promoted on social media.

“He had his ways, you know, typical teenager, but he was no person to start fights,” said his stepfather, Hashim Bailey.

Officers were on the scene monitoring the gathering when they responded to a shooting just after 8 p.m. Saturday in the 500 block of West Roosevelt Road, Chicago police said.

Jeremy suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested near the shooting scene but was released from custody days later without being charged, according to police.

Jeremy Smith’s stepfather, Hashim Bailey, sits with a large framed collage of photos of his 17-year-old stepson, with flower next to him and balloons in the background, as mourners gather for a vigil outside the South Side YMCA. — Jeremy Smith’s stepfather, Hashim Bailey, sits with framed photos of his 17-year-old stepson as mourners gather for a balloon release and vigil at the South Side YMCA on in Woodlawn on Wednesday evening.

It’s not clear what led to the gunfire, but Bailey said Jeremy had no history of trouble.

“He was no criminal,” Bailey said. “He was just learning life. He was a popular dude, likable dude.”

Many others conveyed that feeling about Jeremy at the vigil, as his friends shared stories and fond memories of him while fighting tears.

“Jermo, this was like a real genuine person. … You could just meet him tomorrow and y’all have a real strong bond because that’s the type of person he was,” one friend said.

Jeremy dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player, but if that didn’t work out, Bailey saw his stepson having a bright future in technology.

Bailey came into Jeremy’s life when the boy was 12 years old and became a father figure who pushed him to stay focused on school and taught him about trade schools and other paths after high school. Jeremy was a junior at Ombudsman Chicago South Alternative School.

Standing at an outdoor basketball court holding a large framed photo of teen Jeremy Smith are his godmother, Raven Parker, stepfather, Hashim Bailey, and mother, Rhonda Baker. — Jeremy Smith’s godmother, Raven Parker, stepfather, Hashim Bailey, and mother, Rhonda Baker, stand with a framed photo of the teen during a vigil Wednesday. Jeremy, a junior at Ombudsman Chicago South Alternative School, was killed in a shooting Saturday.

At 8 years old, Jeremy owned an equalizer music player on which he created some of his own beats. Later, he was the “technical support” for the household, fixing internet and computer issues, Bailey said.

His relationships with his younger siblings, a 4-year-old sister and 8-year-old brother, involved the typical big-brother, little-sibling bickering, but ultimately, “it was a bond,” Bailey said, adding that he loved playing Xbox with his brother, M.J. Anderson.

Bailey started a fundraiser to help cover funeral costs.

As Jeremy’s godmother, Raven Parker, comforted one of his friends after the group released balloons Wednesday, she told the dozens of teens, “Y’all gotta live your lives now because he can’t.”

Teen suspect in fatal South Loop shooting released without charges

Friends, relatives and community members gathered Wednesday for a balloon release and vigil for Jeremy Smith.

Jeremy Smith’s godmother, Raven Parker, consoles one of his friends.

Jeremy Smith’s brother, 8-year-old M.J. Anderson, stands with a framed photo.

Mourners gather for a balloon release and vigil for 17-year-old Jeremy Smith at the South Side YMCA at 6330 S. Stony Island Ave., Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Smith was fatally shot Saturday during a large gathering in the South Loop. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Balloons were released Wednesday in Woodlawn for Jeremy Smith, who was killed at a teen gathering in the South Loop on Saturday. A 14-year-old was arrested in the attack but was released without being charged.

"You could just meet him tomorrow and y’all have a real strong bond because that’s the type of person he was,” one friend said of Jeremy Smith. — “You could just meet him tomorrow and y’all have a real strong bond because that’s the type of person he was,” one friend said of Jeremy Smith.

Jeremy Smith’s godmother, Raven Parker, consoles his friend.

Jeremy Smith’s mother, Rhonda Baker, is embraced at a vigil in his honor.

A vigil for slaying victim Jeremy Smith. Another teen was wounded in the attack that killed Jeremy.

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Dozens gathered Wednesday to release balloons in remembrance of Jeremy Smith, 17, who was fatally shot Saturday night in Chicago.