Police couldn't confirm the witness' account other than to say they were looking for a teenage boy. The 18-year-old victim remained hospitalized Thursday.
Police said they were trying to determine if any altercations at the South Side neighborhood school had anything to do with the shooting.
"You shouldn't have to shelter your child to walk two blocks home from school," said Jackson, shaking his head.
An Englewood native, Jackson, 45, said he has done volunteer work with the antiviolence group CeaseFire Illinois and was involved with at least one other group geared toward helping youths.
"It's tragic, not just for me and my family, but for the community because I work with different people on trying to stop the violence," Jackson said. "I don't know what it's going to take. I don't know who it's going to take."
The scene of the shooting, more than a mile from Bowen, was outside the safety "corridors" monitored by community watchers in the city's $40 million "Safe Passage" initiative, though watchers were close enough to hear gunshots and call police, Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman said.
Mayor Richard Daley called on parents and community members to take more responsibility to keep children safe and more vigilant to keep gang members off the streets and out of their communities.
"Gangbangers don't exist in a community unless you allow them," Daley said at a briefing on the safe passages initiative.
Jackson said his child's death has only increased the urgency of his crusade to help curb violence.
"Every child is our child. We have to embrace all the children," Jackson said. "It's not about race. It's about embracing the children, period. This is our future. We're supposed to protect our future."
Tribune reporter Hal Dardick contributed to this report.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Son of peace activist dies in Chicago shooting - Chicago Tribune
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