14yo recently featured in Sports Illustrated shot dead at a party in Illinois

[Sugar Cookie]

A 14-year-old recently featured in Sports Illustrated as one of six teens “who will rule the future in sports,” died after he was shot at a party in Illinois on Saturday night, according to police.

The shooting killed Jaylon McKenzie, 14, an eighth-grade student at Central Junior High School in Belleville, Ill., not far from East St. Louis.

McKenzie’s mother said witnesses told her he was hit by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at the party.

In November, McKenzie told Sports Illustrated his goal was to “Make the NFL” and his dream was to be “a star in L.A.—for the Rams or the Chargers.”

The shooting unfolded in Venice, Ill. around 11:40 p.m. Saturday night, Illinois State Police told Fox News.

Officers were responding to a report of a disturbance and shots fired at a large party. They said when they arrived they found McKenzie and the other teen were shot and needed medical attention. Police said officers immediately began life-saving measures before both victims were transported to nearby hospitals.

McKenzie was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at the hospital.

No arrests have been made.

Illinois football prodigy, 14, recently featured in Sports Illustrated, is shot dead

Jaylon McKenzie, 14, who was featured in Sports Illustrated in November as one of 6 teens “who will rule the future in sports,” was shot to death at a party in Illinois on Saturday night, according to police.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Sevens My Charm]

Damn..
"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. #JaylonMcKenzie"

 

[Keepalowprofile]

What is an 8th grader doing at a large party?

Parental fail.

 

[Sevens My Charm]

What is an 8th grader doing at a large party?

Parental fail.

8th grade dance of some sort and after prom party...

 

[AngryLittleMexican]

It's a shame but I need to know more about this party. Were there parents there? Was there drinking? Did his parents know where he was at - some areas of Illinois are incredibly unsafe.

 

[Brillig]

Tragic. Eighth grade, 14 years old. Probably should not have been at a party at midnight, especially in an area with thugs and gangs. And despite there being a big crowd, nobody is talking, so they have no suspects. That also speaks to what kind of neighborhood this is.

 

[Keepalowprofile]

Also, just because sports illustrated featured him in their magazine doesn't mean he didn't run with thugs.

Being good at throwing a ball doesn't make you an upstanding person.

I'm having a hard time understanding why he was out so late at a party.

 

[JackBurton]

Kid looked like he was 3 fucking 5.

No reason a kid should be out at parties.

 

[Sejanus]

Hope everybody had a really good time at the party because they're all going to be remembering it for the rest of their natural lives. Hope the guilt rips them all up.

 

[Satanica]

No matter where you live, that sort of gathering often includes those who weren't invited showing up to fuck it up for everyone else, because usually no one is managing the party and there's no security hired for crowd control.