Authorities on Saturday identified the second boy killed in a shooting outside Benito Juarez High School in Pilsen as police continued searching for a person seen on surveillance video running away from the scene where two other teenagers were wounded.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed 14-year-old Nathan Billegas was killed in the attack, which also left 15-year-old Brandon Perez dead shortly after dismissal Friday afternoon near the high school at 2150 S. Laflin St.
Both boys were shot in the head shortly after 2:30 p.m., according to the Chicago police, and were pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital.
Two other teens, a 15-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, were taken to Stroger with gunshot wounds, police said. The boy was struck in the thigh and shoulder, and the girl had a graze wound. Both were in good condition, according to police.
A radio dispatch to officers said a suspect in a black mask, black hoodie and black North Face jacket was seen running west on Cermak Road and north on Ashland Avenue after the shots were fired.
Police released photos Saturday of a person wanted for questioning who matched that description. The grainy surveillance images show someone in dark clothing darting past a Juarez sign through the falling snow.
Police haven’t said whether the victims were Juarez students or whether any were targets of the gunfire.
Constance Jones, the chief executive officer of Noble Schools, said in a written statement that one of the teenagers who died and one who was injured are students in the charter network but didn’t make clear whether she was referring to Billegas or Perez.
“We recently learned about senseless gun violence that took the lives of two students and injured two others outside of Benito Juarez High School,” Jones said.
On Saturday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she is “beyond outraged by this incident, which highlights the pressing need for illegal guns to be taken off our streets and out of the hands of those seeking to cause harm.”
Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to call Area Five detectives at (312) 744-8261, or submit an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.
Contributing: Allison Novelo
