College student shot, killed while visiting his mother at home in Chicago

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Early Sunday, a college student was shot and killed while visiting his mother in Chicago just hours before he would have been back to class.

–College student killed by gunfire outside party

19-year-old Arshell Dennis III, a journalism student at St. John’s University, was sitting out on his mother’s porch when he was shot in the chest by a shooter on foot. His parents were supposed to take him to the airport so he could return to school for his junior year at college.

“Now because of this senseless violence we will be grieving and planning his funeral,” the Dennis family said in a statement. “Trey was smart, funny and the light of our lives.”

Dennis had been visiting his sick mother for the weekend as a surprise.

“He was a beautiful young man,” his grandfather told reporters, clutching his chest in anguish.

–Maryland’s black students pepper-sprayed at grad party, university responds

Although police do not yet have a motive for the shooting, authorities believe it might have been a case of mistaken identity.

In an earlier video posted to YouTube, Dennis had spoken out about the violence that was plaguing his home city.

“I do appreciate the fact that I am where I am. A lot of people where I’m from don’t make it out,” he said in the video, in which he also talked about his love of poetry and hip hop.

–Two 19-year-old college students shot to death after fight breaks out in parking lot

(Chicago Tribune)

SHARE THIS ARTICLE