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Ujuan Drape

Age 13

Chicago, Illinois

Mother’s Halloween costume honored her son

He was described as funny, goofy, and cute. He “loved all of his cousins.” 

His outfits always fit a color theme, rocking brands like Champion and Nike. One signature look  included a pair of white Nikes, blue jeans, a belt with an animal buckle and a white shirt with a tiger with the word “Elite” on it. On Halloween, his mother would wear the outfit in his honor.

On Sept. 30, 2018, Ujuan Drape, 13, was killed on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois. A green SUV pulled up next to him while he was walking on the sidewalk. Someone inside the vehicle opened fire.

By Emma Presnell · Age 16
Meet the Reporters

More than 100 jokesters

Steven Alexander Jr.

He missed his first Father’s Day

Eric Xavier Degori

His jokes could make anyone laugh

Amauri Green

Died while fixing a flat tire

Eddie Daiquan Grant

A devoted boyfriend and rap fan

Matthew James Jurado

Challenging student had a compassionate heart

Deandre Moon

Overnight tragedy for a basketball fan

Robert Carranza

He liked to post song lyrics

Edgar Alan Espino

Jokester loved to make people laugh

Jayvone J. Shackelford-Bishop

Friends together like Lilo & Stitch

Terale Claridy-Vaught

‘Solid’ friend barely gets to adulthood

Natwan Kian Holyfield

Supposed to go to homecoming, prom

Rashiya Melton

Joins brother, leaves behind her twin

Daron Johnson

He went to celebrate another’s life

Ryan J. Dillon

A playful boy, stopped by bullets

Darion Gordon

Sixteen years erased by one bullet

Will Earl Davis Jr.

The rising senior was always smiling

Kaiden Vague

Sixteenth birthday. Golden birthday. Last birthday.

Bryan Portales Escalante

Phone, wallet, shoes and, life — gone

Manuel Lopez Jr.

High school senior set to graduate

Jonathan David Freeman Jr.

Debated anything, from music to Deflategate