Jamiel Shaw Jr., 17, a black youth, was shot in the head and back at 2150 5th Ave. in Arlington Heights about 8:40 p.m. on Sunday, March 2.

According to police, Jamiel was walking home when two Latino men jumped out of a white car and approached him. He was asked what gang he belonged to. When he failed to respond quickly enough, they shot him, police said.

The men sped away in the white car north on 5th Avenue, according to Officer Kate Lopez of LAPD's media relations office. Jamiel's father heard the shots and ran outside. He stayed by his son until medical personnel arrived, Lopez said.

He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:55 p.m.

An excerpt follows from The Times article: A youth 'on track' until fatal gunfire

Stanford University called about Jamiel Shaw a week or so ago, intrigued by the slight but speedy running back for Los Angeles High School, the Southern League's most valuable player last year. Rutgers University called a few days later.

The Shaw family already had reason to be proud. Jamiel's mother, Army Sgt. Anita Shaw, was on her second tour of duty in Iraq.

On Sunday night, it was Jamiel's father on the phone and then his son's girlfriend, Chrystale Miles. Jamiel Sr. called to tell him to hurry home from the mall. The 17-year-old boy was three doors away when someone shot him to death while he was still talking on his cellphone to Chrystale, friends say.

Jamiel Sr. heard the shots almost as soon as he hung up. He ran out of the house, raced around the corner and found his son lying on the sidewalk, bleeding.

"She's over there trying to protect us from guns and bombs, and then she has to hear that her son is dead over here," he said of Anita on Monday. "I've got my own personal Iraq now."

Los Angeles police officials described the killing as random and senseless, cutting down a youth who had been doing everything right in his life -- from hitting the books to never missing church to inspiring the Los Angeles High Romans to last year's Southern League title.

A police spokeswoman said two Latino men pulled up in a car, jumped out, asked Jamiel if he belonged to a gang, and shot him when he didn't answer. She said Jamiel was not affiliated with a gang and that detectives had no suspects.

Anita Shaw was flying back from Iraq on Monday, family members said.

"She called crying, saying, 'Tell me it's not my son,' " said Jamiel's aunt, Althea Shaw. "She was so proud. She felt he had made it through the hard times. She still called him her baby, even though he was taller than her." Keep reading: A youth 'on track' until fatal gunfire

[Update May 9, 2012: Gang member convicted in killing of football star Jamiel Shaw Jr.]

[Update November 2, 2012: Gang member sentenced to death in Jamiel Shaw slaying]

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