Emmauel E. Reid, a 19-year-old African-American man from Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood, is remembered by his loved ones as a loyal, loving, sweet, and caring person. Known to be thoughtful, understanding, and honest, Emmauel was also a wonderful stepfather. Friends and family, who knew him by nicknames like "Eman" and "Ethang," recalled a young man who was deeply loved. He had attended Harlan High School, and his death left a void in the lives of those who cherished him. Messages left in his memory speak of a "sweet and special" person whose loss was deeply felt by his mother, nephew, and many others.
On the night of Monday, April 10, 2017, Emmauel’s life was cut short by gun violence in the Roseland neighborhood on the city's Far South Side. At approximately 9:20 p.m., he was walking eastbound on the 100 block of East 112th Street with a 37-year-old woman. The walk was suddenly interrupted by the sound of gunshots. According to Chicago Police, the woman with Emmauel ran for cover. When she turned back to look for him, she saw him lying on the ground and immediately called 911.
When police and paramedics arrived, they found Emmauel unresponsive. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office pronounced him dead at the scene at 9:25 p.m. The shooting happened on a block in a neighborhood that, like many in Chicago, has contended with the persistent issue of gun violence. That year, the city recorded over 650 homicides, and Emmauel’s death was a painful addition to that statistic.
The Chicago Police Department’s Area South detectives were assigned to lead the investigation into Emmauel's murder. In the immediate aftermath, authorities collected evidence from the scene and spoke with the witness who was with him. However, police did not release a description of any potential suspects or a possible motive for the attack. The initial news reports provided the essential details of the crime but offered no further information on persons of interest or leads that detectives were pursuing.
In the years since Emmauel Reid was killed, there have been no significant public updates on the status of the investigation. No arrests have been announced, and no suspects have been publicly identified, leaving his family and community without answers or a sense of justice. His case is one of many unsolved homicides in Chicago, a silent testament to the grief that families endure long after the initial shock of their loss has passed.
The memory of Emmauel is kept alive by those who loved him. Online memorials are filled with messages of sorrow and love, with one relative writing, "Miss you nephew..I know you're watching down on us..Love ya." Another message simply states, "I Wish I Would Have Got A Chance Tah Say Goodbye I Love Yu Man." As of this writing, the murder of Emmauel E. Reid remains unsolved. Chicago Police have not announced any new leads or a reward for information in connection with this specific case.
