Today we come together with heavy hearts after the tragic and senseless loss of Johan Adarve Sanchez, a student at Morton High School.

Johan was just a teenager — a young life full of dreams, hopes, and a future that was violently taken away yesterday, when he was murdered by another adolescent, reportedly involved in gang activity.

This was not just an act of violence — it was a failure to protect our youth and to intervene before it was too late.

Johan mattered.

He was a son.

He was a student.

He was a young person who wanted to move forward in life.

Today, his family is living through unimaginable pain. His mother is now facing the unthinkable — laying her child to rest. With the help of loved ones, she has created a GoFundMe account to raise funds for Johan’s funeral expenses.

We ask the community to stand with this family during this devastating time. Any donation, no matter how small, is a way to show compassion, support, and solidarity.

Let us not remain silent.

Let us not normalize this violence.

And let us never forget the name Johan Adarve Sanchez.