Robert Freeman Jr., 13, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn Wednesday night after being shot in cold blood—at least 22 times.
The young boy had been out riding his bike and stopped to talk with friends when he was gunned down at approximately 8;15 PM, July 28, 2010. As he lay dying, he was overheard saying “Go get my Mama.”
Robert Freeman Jr: Young Chicago Teen Dead After Being Shot 22 Times (Video)
Thirteen year old Robert Freeman Jr. is the latest child to die violently in Chicago. His murder is likely the result of mistaken identity, which is of no solace to his grieving parent’s, Robert Freeman Sr. and Theresa Lumpkin.
According to some witnesses, Freeman was standing on 115th Street and South Perry Avenue when the masked shooter emerged from an overgrown vacant lot and proceeded to open fire into a crowd of people, seemingly targeting the boy.
The gunman stood over the fallen child and continued to shoot him 22 times.
Twenty two times—and no one is in custody. That’s likely due to the ‘code of silence’, the ‘no snitch’ code that keeps people living in fear of being the next victim.
Robert had just moved to the neighborhood after transferring schools last May. He loved cycling and fishing and was an all around good child—spending his summer mowing lawns for pocket money. He would have started the 8th grade this fall.
The West Pullman area where he lived has already seen two murders, two armed robberies and six assault and batteries this year.
A neighbor of the Freeman’s, Cola Townsend, 80, said “I’ve lived on this block 35 years, and it’s never been this bad.”
Mariah Edwards, another neighbor, said that kids often cut through the overgrown lot and that many have requested it be cut down, but no one listened. Or perhaps they did and simply didn’t care.
Darlecia Watts added “This is a harbor for the boys to get away, they all need to come and cut this because this is taller than me.”
“I miss my baby, I’m on my way to morgue right now,” Theresa Lumpkin sobbed. “I’ve cried since 9:30 last night and I haven’t had any sleep. I will not be eating.”
“I don’t want to bury my baby. My baby is 13 years old. I don’t want to do it, but it’s something I’ve got to do.”
“He loved fishing, and he was always begging me to send him to his grandma’s in Saginaw, Michigan, so he could go fish there,” she said. “I wish I’d listened to him . . . He might still be alive.”
No parent should have to bury a child and my heart hurts for parent’s that have done so, for whatever reason. Somehow, it feels even more tragic when a child is lost to violence, and our society is losing kids every day to gangs, drugs and assaults—the list goes on. The problem is not just guns, as many want to believe. I’d bet good money the heartless killer of Robert Freeman did not have a registered weapon.
I fault the parents of these violent kids. Until we start holding them accountable for their miscreant children, this crime wave against our babies will continue.
Every community has it’s share of thugs—they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. We know who they are, where and how they live, and yet we mind our own business and look the other way. Minding one’s business is usually a good thing, but not at the peril of our children.
I think it’s about time that the good, decent and hard working families band together and start ‘outing’ those parents that are so pre-occupied with their own lives ( drinking, drugs, parties) that they ignore their own children, unleashing them on society with no social skills, morals or values.
I would start by letting these lazy and selfish parents know that I’m not putting up with their irresponsible behavior anymore. I would call Child Protective Services and / or the police—every single time I saw one of their children unattended, dirty or hungry—I would become their worst nightmare until they straightened up or moved. And hopefully, my neighbors would have my back.
The no snitch rule needs to go away. Turn off that awful music with the horrid lyrics advocating violence. Turn off the TV, get rid of the X-Box or change the games children play.
Take back your community! Good will always prevail over evil, but only if you’re willing to stand up and be counted.
How many other sweet little 13 year old kids have to be gunned down, beaten or knifed to death—before we fight back? Remember, each and every one of us think this will never happen to us. Theresa Lumpkin thought that, too.
The time to fight back is now. Someone knows who shot Robert Freeman Jr. 22 times. Somehow, someway, we have to break this ‘code of silence.’ Remember, you can remain anonymous on any tip line!
Anyone that stands over a child’s body and shoots them repeatedly is a monster—they won’t hesitate to do it again.
If you have any thoughts on ‘Robert Freeman Jr: Young Chicago Teen Dead After Being Shot 22 Times’, feel free to leave them in the comment section after the video.
The young boy had been out riding his bike and stopped to talk with friends when he was gunned down at approximately 8;15 PM, July 28, 2010. As he lay dying, he was overheard saying “Go get my Mama.”
Robert Freeman Jr: Young Chicago Teen Dead After Being Shot 22 Times (Video)
Thirteen year old Robert Freeman Jr. is the latest child to die violently in Chicago. His murder is likely the result of mistaken identity, which is of no solace to his grieving parent’s, Robert Freeman Sr. and Theresa Lumpkin.
According to some witnesses, Freeman was standing on 115th Street and South Perry Avenue when the masked shooter emerged from an overgrown vacant lot and proceeded to open fire into a crowd of people, seemingly targeting the boy.
The gunman stood over the fallen child and continued to shoot him 22 times.
Twenty two times—and no one is in custody. That’s likely due to the ‘code of silence’, the ‘no snitch’ code that keeps people living in fear of being the next victim.
Robert had just moved to the neighborhood after transferring schools last May. He loved cycling and fishing and was an all around good child—spending his summer mowing lawns for pocket money. He would have started the 8th grade this fall.
The West Pullman area where he lived has already seen two murders, two armed robberies and six assault and batteries this year.
A neighbor of the Freeman’s, Cola Townsend, 80, said “I’ve lived on this block 35 years, and it’s never been this bad.”
Mariah Edwards, another neighbor, said that kids often cut through the overgrown lot and that many have requested it be cut down, but no one listened. Or perhaps they did and simply didn’t care.
Darlecia Watts added “This is a harbor for the boys to get away, they all need to come and cut this because this is taller than me.”
“I miss my baby, I’m on my way to morgue right now,” Theresa Lumpkin sobbed. “I’ve cried since 9:30 last night and I haven’t had any sleep. I will not be eating.”
“I don’t want to bury my baby. My baby is 13 years old. I don’t want to do it, but it’s something I’ve got to do.”
“He loved fishing, and he was always begging me to send him to his grandma’s in Saginaw, Michigan, so he could go fish there,” she said. “I wish I’d listened to him . . . He might still be alive.”
No parent should have to bury a child and my heart hurts for parent’s that have done so, for whatever reason. Somehow, it feels even more tragic when a child is lost to violence, and our society is losing kids every day to gangs, drugs and assaults—the list goes on. The problem is not just guns, as many want to believe. I’d bet good money the heartless killer of Robert Freeman did not have a registered weapon.
I fault the parents of these violent kids. Until we start holding them accountable for their miscreant children, this crime wave against our babies will continue.
Every community has it’s share of thugs—they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. We know who they are, where and how they live, and yet we mind our own business and look the other way. Minding one’s business is usually a good thing, but not at the peril of our children.
I think it’s about time that the good, decent and hard working families band together and start ‘outing’ those parents that are so pre-occupied with their own lives ( drinking, drugs, parties) that they ignore their own children, unleashing them on society with no social skills, morals or values.
I would start by letting these lazy and selfish parents know that I’m not putting up with their irresponsible behavior anymore. I would call Child Protective Services and / or the police—every single time I saw one of their children unattended, dirty or hungry—I would become their worst nightmare until they straightened up or moved. And hopefully, my neighbors would have my back.
The no snitch rule needs to go away. Turn off that awful music with the horrid lyrics advocating violence. Turn off the TV, get rid of the X-Box or change the games children play.
Take back your community! Good will always prevail over evil, but only if you’re willing to stand up and be counted.
How many other sweet little 13 year old kids have to be gunned down, beaten or knifed to death—before we fight back? Remember, each and every one of us think this will never happen to us. Theresa Lumpkin thought that, too.
The time to fight back is now. Someone knows who shot Robert Freeman Jr. 22 times. Somehow, someway, we have to break this ‘code of silence.’ Remember, you can remain anonymous on any tip line!
Anyone that stands over a child’s body and shoots them repeatedly is a monster—they won’t hesitate to do it again.
If you have any thoughts on ‘Robert Freeman Jr: Young Chicago Teen Dead After Being Shot 22 Times’, feel free to leave them in the comment section after the video.
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