Murdered young footballer remembered at family and team-mates reunion

Family and friends gathered at a vigil Monday afternoon to remember Juan Sebastian Salgado, a 17-year-old boy killed in a shooting last week in Little Village.

Dozens of people gathered outside Benito Juarez Community Academy, 1450-1510 W. Cermak Road, on what would have been the first day of Salgado's senior year.

Salgado, the captain of the boys' soccer team, was driving a friend home from soccer practice on Aug. 19, a week before the first day of school, when he was gunned down in a drive-by shooting.

He was driving in the 3800 block of West 26th Street when a truck pulled up and someone inside opened fire, hitting him in the shoulder. Salgado was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Students and teammates were seen near the soccer field where Salgado spent much of his time, carrying flickering candles and releasing white balloons shaped like angel wings.

“You all know here that my son was a good boy, kind, affectionate and disciplined,” his father, Angel Salgado, said, holding back tears. “All of you who knew him are witnesses to that.”

His teammates, who wore black and white jerseys, presented the family with a yellow captain's armband and what is believed to have been Salgado's team jersey with the number 21 on the back.

“I hope this never happens again,” Salgado said. “I hope another family doesn’t have to go through this because it’s very hard. I don’t know how we’ll get through this, but I hope God blesses all of you for being here.”

Grecia Salgado, Salgado's older sister, said she was grateful for the community's support and appreciated those who attended the vigil.

“It’s hard to put my brother in a bubble because he was a lot of things,” she told the Sun-Times. “He was more than just an athlete. He was a friend, a son, he was my brother.”

Emmanuel Guerrero, the former coach of Salgado's volleyball team, said he was heartbroken when he learned of the shooting and wanted to show his support for the family.

“It breaks my heart that this would happen to a family, to a father, who is so involved in his children’s lives,” Guerrero said. “When something like this happens, it’s devastating. We’re constantly trying to keep the kids busy so this doesn’t happen, and to see this happen in our community, it’s heartbreaking.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help cover funeral costs.

No one is in custody.