A 16-year-old student was fatally shot Tuesday morning as he was trying to run inside his South Shore high school, which he considered “the safest place that he knew,” according to a CPS board member.
The following morning, a spray of bullet holes marked the walls of Safe Achieve Academy, 7877 S. Coles Ave., where Kenyae Franklin had been shot to death.
The front doors of the South Shore school were boarded up, and shattered glass lined the sidewalk.
According to police, Franklin was seen running south on the 7800 block of South Coles Avenue at 9:15 a.m. when three gunmen exited a white Range Rover, ran toward the victim and began shooting.
The teen was shot outside the front doors of the school, police said. After the attack, the shooters jumped back into the Range Rover and sped away.
Franklin died at the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said. An autopsy determined Franklin died of gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
In a Chicago Public Schools board meeting Wednesday, board member Che “Rhymefest” Smith said he met Franklin during a tour of the school earlier this year.
Smith said he went back Tuesday when he heard the boy had been killed.
Kenyae “was unfortunately shot and killed as he was running to the safest place that he knew … and the safest place that he knew to run was his school,” Smith said during the meeting.
“The thing that he loved most about his school was the gardening program that taught him how to grow his own food,” Smith said.
The student said the gardening program changed his life, according to Smith.
In an interview with the Sun-Times Wednesday evening, Smith said Kenyae was quick to show off the lettuce, peppers and tomatoes grown at the school’s garden.
“What is your gift?” Smith said he asked Kenyae while they stood in the garden. Kenyae handed the board member lettuce to try for himself.
The teen replied, “You’re looking at it,” according to Smith.
“He was so proud of being able to grow life, and the life that was sprouting from his hands,” Smith said. “I saw myself in that student in that school, in that moment.”
School officials said they placed the school on lockdown after the shooting to protect students and staff.
In a statement, school officials said, “We are a close-knit school community, and this loss is deeply felt by all.
“Our first priority, every day, is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of our student during this very difficult time,” the school said.
Police recovered several rifle rounds and 9mm rounds, according to the report, which said the Range Rover was later found in an alley, set on fire, in the 7800 block of South Paxton Street.
Police reported no arrests.
Smith said he intends to help raise funds to create a garden in Kenyae’s honor.
Smith said he wants to create something where “all students can use their hands and get the same experience to create life that he had.”
“And we’ll do it for even more students,” Smith said.
