Members of the Pilsen community in Chicago gathered for a vigil in memory of a star high school athlete who was preparing to start his senior year but was fatally shot a week ago.
Juan Salgado, 17, was shot and killed Aug. 19 near South Hamlin Avenue and West 26th Street in Little Village while driving a teammate home from soccer practice. On Monday, classmates, teammates, family members and friends gathered near the soccer fields at Juarez Community Academy to pay tribute to Juan.
The team captain – he was supposed to start his senior year of high school on Monday.
“He was the best player in the world, he was really good at soccer,” said his girlfriend, Natasha Flores. “He loved his team and was really looking forward to his senior year.”
Natasha said Juan was funny and affectionate. He was also respected by many.
“He was an incredible person, very much loved by all his friends, as many people loved him,” she said.
Grecia Salgado, Juan’s sister, said she felt no hatred toward the person responsible for her brother’s murder.
She hopes the community will learn a lesson and the senseless violence will stop.
“I just want to let you know that you caught a good person,” Grecia said, sending a message to the person responsible. “He was making a difference in this community.”
Others also spoke of the kind and selfless person they knew – a teenager adored by many.
“When a classmate or teammate was sick or going through something, he was the one who would text them on the phone to make sure they were feeling better,” said the Rev. Brendan Curran, an organizer with Project Resurrection. “That’s him.”
Juan’s family and friends will say their final goodbyes at a memorial service scheduled for Friday.
According to Chicago police, no one was in custody as of Monday evening.
