Activist, 17, Who Opposed Police In Schools, Killed In Shooting

CHICAGO — A youth activist who advocated the removal of police officers from schools died Sunday in Evanston, two days after he was found shot in West Rogers Park.

Caleb Reed, 17, was a senior at Mather High School and a leader with the group Youth in Chicago Education. He called for Chicago Police Department school resource officers, or SROs, to be removed from Chicago Public Schools.

Police said Reed was found laying on a sidewalk in the 1900 block of West Granville Avenue shortly after 1 p.m. Friday. He had a gunshot wound to the head, and was taken to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead Sunday morning. Police have not released any information about who may have shot him.

At a rally in June, Reed recalled how he was arrested and detailed at a police station for six hours because he did not have his student identification at a high school basketball game during his sophomore year.

"I knew it wasn't right at all," Reed said. "But inside, I was angry, confused, I wanted to give them a reaction. I wanted to so bad, but I knew if I did do that, it would make situation worse. I just remained calm, didn't give them that reaction."

Reed called for an end to the contract between CPS and CPD, with the resources instead devoted to supporting the mental health of students.

"They label us as dangerous because we are misunderstood, from the color of our skin or the way we move our hands that makes them feel threatened. So we're just here to make change and hope for change and have faith that this works," he said.

"It's not a good feeling to be labeled as dangerous or criminals because we are not," Reed added. "We are not at all."

Ald. Andre Vasquez, who represents the 40th Ward where Reed lived, called for people to continue his activism and pray for his family.

"He was a light in our community the was extinguished too soon," Vasquez said in a social media post. "We need to address the root causes of [gun violence] so that we stop losing our people.

An online fundraiser has been established to support his family with funeral and other expenses.

"Caleb was loved by everyone and even was a freedom fighter," organizers said. "We will all miss him dearly."