CHICAGO (CBS) — A Chicago man who volunteered as a violence interrupter was shot and killed in the Englewood neighborhood last weekend, and those who knew and volunteered alongside him vowed to continue his mission days later.
Dennis Green volunteered with the Englewood First Responders. Charles McKenzie, the organization’s founder, said Green’s death only makes him even more motivated to help the world.
“We’re here so people can see the presence,” McKenzie said.
Most days, McKenzie can be found walking in Englewood with a group of teenagers who volunteer as violence interrupters.
Green was shot to death at 8:39 a.m. Sunday in the alley behind the 700 block of West 36th Place — right in the neighborhood where he worked to prevent gun violence.
“It’s just so many mixed emotions. And it hit me, man, I fight so hard every day against violence and do what I can do to reduce the violence,” McKenzie said, “and it happened to people who are really trying to defuse situations -escalate.”
McKenzie said people only need to know one story about Green to know what kind of man he was.
“There was a guy who was really on drugs, and he smelled bad, and Dennis took off his brand new pair of shoes and gave them to the guy,” McKenzie said, “and that lets you know he has a good heart for the people.”
Chicago police said Green was shot several times. He was 36.
Delivered to CBS 2
Green was one of eight people killed and a total of 44 people shot the past weekend.
Dana Estrem runs an after-school program near the scene of the shooting. He described what he saw.
“I noticed a number of police cars congregating in this area,” Estrem said. “Every life is priceless.”
Meanwhile, McKenzie said the loss of one of his own drives him to keep doing the work.
“It’s definitely made me feel more motivated,” he said, “but if you’re not strong-minded, it can definitely break you.”
CBS 2 contacted Chicago police Wednesday evening, who said no arrests have been made.
Charlie de Mar
