Quintin Brown was killed in a targeted, gang-related shooting in Rogers Park last month. But the 17-year-old “lived it to the fullest” in the short time he had, according to his girlfriend.
“He was full of life, he always wanted to have a good time,” said Katia Trantik, who said she had been dating Brown since March of 2018.
Trantik described the feeling of losing Brown as “an ongoing nightmare.”
“I didn’t (watch) the news just because I knew hearing about it would hurt more, but from the articles I would read or see, it just didn’t feel real at all,” she said. “I was still in complete shock.”
Trantik said Brown “taught me to be as strong as I can,” which has helped.
“I’m trying my best to hang in there as much as I can,” she said.
Brown was fatally wounded while standing on a sidewalk in the 6900 block of North Glenwood around 2:15 p.m. June 27, according to Chicago Police. Someone on foot shot him four times in the abdomen, once in the mouth, twice in the left leg and once in the right leg, police said.
Brown grew up in West Rogers Park, and attended Senn High School for a short time. Trantik said people remember as a “happy and excited” person.
“You know you could never be sad around him,” she said. “I tried to be mad at him and I (couldn’t) do it because that man would put the biggest smile on my face. That’s how he was around everybody.”
Trantik said Brown was looking forward to finishing school and being able to graduate with all his friends.
According to the Chicago Tribune, a friend of Brown’s invited the community members to come together to explore ways to reduce gun violence. Avir Life told the Tribune he plans to hold meetings in his basement, looking for “ways to heal community disputes before gun violence strikes again,” he told the Tribune.
Tratnik said she will also try to keep Brown’s memory alive.
“He was just a great person, like if you really got to know him,” she said. “I’m going to make sure everybody remembers him, nobody is ever gonna forget him. I’ll forever love him more than anything. I am going to make him proud.”
A GoFundMe page has been established to support Quintin Brown’s family. You can find that page: Here.
