NEAR WEST SIDE — A high school junior who loved to play soccer was killed in a West Side shooting Saturday night that also left his older cousin injured, according to police and family.
Oscar Marquez, 17, of the 700 block of South Oakley Boulevard and was described a kind, funny and shy by family.
Cousin Maribel Marquez, 17, grew up in the same home as Oscar. She said she remembers him for his kindness, most notably when the boy who was reserved in every facet of life served as her escort to a cotillion in November.
"For him, to do that for me was wonderful. He's not the kind of person to stand in front of others," Maribel said.
Oscar and his 18-year-old cousin Rafael Marquez, who according to family moved from Oklahoma a few years ago and was close to Oscar, were shot about 6:15 p.m. in the 2400 block of West Cermak Road, police said.
The victims were in a car when someone in a white SUV with tinted windows drove up, police said. A man got out of the SUV and started firing shots before he took fleeing the scene, police said.
The victims drove themselves to Rush University Medical Center, where Oscar was pronounced dead, police said.
Rafael was in serious condition at Rush before being transferred to John H. Stroger Hospital, police said. After surgeries overnight, his family expects him to survive the attack.
Though the Marquez family didn't know much about the shooting, they said they had no idea why anyone would target either cousin.
"He was a very healthy kid. He was a very nice kid," said aunt Maria Marquez about Oscar. "He liked to make people laugh. Why would anyone want to hurt him?"
Oscar was the eldest of four children and was a student at Marine Math and Science Academy on the Near West Side.
Oscar spent much of his free time with a soccer ball, family said.
"Since he was little, he loved to play soccer," Maribel said. "He never played for the school, but he was really good."
Oscar was the second Chicago teen to die in gun violence this weekend. Frances Colon, 18, was gunned down near a West Humboldt Park playlot Friday. Police said she was likely caught in crossfire and not the intended target.
