Aamer Madhani

USA TODAY

CHICAGO — The 15-year-old grandson of Rep. Danny Davis, a longtime U.S. House member, was fatally shot Friday in a dispute that may have started over a pair of gym shoes, police said.

Police confirmed that the teen, Jovan Wilson, was the grandson of Davis, a Democrat who represents a district that includes part of Chicago and the city's western suburbs.

Jovan was at his home in the city’s Englewood neighborhood on the South Side around 6:45 p.m. CT Friday when the shooter, also a teen, and another person came to his house and began arguing with the boy about a pair of shoes, according to police.

“That dispute escalated and turned physical and one of the offenders pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the head,” said Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. "There was a history between the young people involved, and it was a dispute over gym shoes among minors. This was not random but was egregious and senseless to use a gun over a fight for clothes."

Police say they know the identity of the shooter and were searching for him early Saturday.

17 killed as Chicago sees deadliest weekend of the year

The shooting is the latest grim incident in what is shaping up to be the most violent year in Chicago since the late 1990s. The city has recorded 643 murders through Nov. 6 — a 55% increase compared to the same period last year, according to police department data.

Police and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have blamed the current spike in street violence on increased gang activity and gun laws that they say aren’t strong enough to deter convicted felons from carrying and using weapons. The vast majority of the murders have occurred in predominantly African-American neighborhoods on the city's South and West sides.

Davis said that Jovan's 16-year-old sister, two younger brothers, and uncle were in the house when the incident occurred. He described the assailants as a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl.

"What could have prevented this tragedy? Better education, more supervision (and) after school activity. Better parenting," Davis said. "I grieve for my family. I grieve for the young man who pulled the trigger. I grieve for his family, his parents, his friends."

Follow USA TODAY Chicago correspondent Aamer Madhani on Twitter: @AamerISmad