Lasiah Palmer, a 15-year-old from Chicago’s West Side, was known for his reserved nature and love for family. He was one of the few teenagers in his neighborhood who still adhered to a curfew. His family placed great emphasis on keeping him safe from street violence.
On Tuesday night, he was at home enjoying the summer evening from his back porch. His cousin, Billeka Palmer, said, “That should not have been a problem. That should have been a luxury he was awarded in his own home.” Tragically, Lasiah was shot and killed early Wednesday morning on a third-floor patio, found unconscious and bleeding.
Lasiah, affectionately called “Spyda” by his family and friends, had been at home after swimming with friends. The police report indicated he watched TV in his mother’s bedroom before the incident occurred.
Officers received a call shortly after 1 a.m. about the shooting in the 4600 block of West Jackson Boulevard. They found Lasiah with a gunshot wound to the top of his head. Despite paramedics taking him to Stroger Hospital, he was pronounced dead. This was later confirmed as a homicide by the Cook County medical examiner.
The investigation revealed Lasiah’s mother discovered him on the porch after returning home just before 1 a.m. Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and a commotion one to two hours prior to this discovery. Lasiah had been described as an introvert who avoided large crowds but cherished time with his family. He enjoyed sports and games and looked forward to high school at Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy.
According to his cousin Billeka, his mother worked diligently to keep her children safe from street culture. The Austin community, despite these efforts, leads the city in homicides with 18 recorded this year. In 2026, Chicago experienced 233 homicides.
Billeka highlighted the importance of open discussions within the family about young Black men’s reality. She emphasized that Lasiah represented the innocence of Black children despite societal stereotypes.
A GoFundMe page was established to cover funeral and memorial expenses, raising over $3,400. “Lasiah was more than a name,” wrote his cousin Diamond Dortch. “He was a loving son, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend whose presence touched everyone.” The family and community remain in mourning as detectives from Harrison Area (Area 4) continue their investigation.