The People He Called Friends Left Him Behind… — Marcus Chatman’s Mother Reveals Sh0cking Details About Her Son’s Final Moments, And The Camera Recorded Everything
CHICAGO — What began as an ordinary summer evening ended in unimaginable tragedy for the family of 14-year-old Marcus Chatman, a beloved youth football player remembered for his kindness, humor, and unwavering trust in others.
Now, days after his death, Marcus’s mother, Ahmani Hicks, is sharing disturbing details she says were revealed through surveillance footage and messages discovered after the shooting — details that have left her devastated and searching for answers.
Marcus was fatally shot on June 18 in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. According to Hicks, the teenager was known throughout his community for his bright personality and generous spirit.
“He would take the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet and give them to somebody,” Hicks said. “He was so trusting. He loved people, and he thought everyone loved the same way.”
The grieving mother says she had been preparing for Marcus’s upcoming 15th birthday. Instead, she found herself planning his funeral.
But it is what allegedly happened in the moments leading up to his death that continues to haunt her.
According to Hicks, police informed her that surveillance footage showed Marcus leaving an apartment building with several people he considered friends. Moments later, she says, one of those individuals allegedly shot him from behind before fleeing the scene.
Even more heartbreaking, Hicks claims the footage showed others who were present running away and leaving Marcus behind.
For the family, that revelation has become one of the most painful aspects of the case.
“They were the people he trusted,” a devastated Hicks said as she reflected on what she believes happened that night.
The tragedy took another disturbing turn when Hicks logged into Marcus’s Instagram account while waiting at the hospital.
There, she says, she discovered a group chat involving some of the same people Marcus considered friends. According to Hicks, the messages discussed the shooting shortly after it occurred and allegedly identified the person responsible.
Some of the conversations, she claims, included individuals discussing whether they should check on Marcus after he had been shot. Other messages appeared to have been deleted.
The revelations have only intensified the family’s grief.
Hicks says she had worried for months about the group Marcus had begun associating with. She repeatedly warned him to stay away, believing they were a negative influence. But Marcus remained loyal.
“He thought those were his friends,” she said. “He saw no wrong in them.”
Today, Marcus’s absence is felt throughout the household. His brothers continue struggling with the loss, while reminders of the teenager remain everywhere — from photographs around the home to memories shared by friends and teammates.
The support of Marcus’s football family has provided some comfort. Members of the Midwest Hawks Youth Football organization have rallied around the family, bringing groceries, visiting the house, and helping them navigate their grief.
Still, Hicks says no amount of support can erase what happened.
As investigators continue working the case, she hopes those responsible will be held accountable.
For now, a mother is left mourning a son she describes as loving, trusting, and full of life — while trying to understand how the people he believed were his friends became part of the story surrounding his final moments.
The investigation remains ongoing.
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune
