CHICAGO, Ill. – A 30-year-old man was shot and killed in a brazen evening attack on Chicago’s Far South Side, according to the Chicago Police Department. Authorities have now identified the victim as LeBron Stewart, a man known in his community by the nickname “White Owl.”

The fatal shooting unfolded at approximately 7:03 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in the 13300 block of South Calumet Avenue, near the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood. Police responded to the scene after receiving a call of shots fired and found Stewart on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by a responding officer and a rapid transport to a top-tier trauma center, Stewart succumbed to his injuries.

The case is now being handled by Area 5 detectives as a homicide. As of Friday morning, no suspects are in custody, and a motive for the shooting has not yet been determined. Police are actively investigating and are pleading with the public for any information that could lead to an arrest in the city’s latest act of deadly gun violence.

A Violent Evening on South Calumet

The initial 911 calls from the 13300 block of South Calumet on Thursday evening painted a chaotic picture. A witness reported hearing a rapid succession of six or seven gunshots before discovering a man lying wounded near the corner.

Officers from the 5th District (Calumet) were the first to arrive on the scene. They located LeBron Stewart unresponsive on the ground. Body-worn camera footage will likely show the heroic actions of an officer from unit 506-Adam, who, upon assessing the victim’s critical condition, immediately began administering CPR in a desperate attempt to keep him alive until paramedics could arrive.

The Chicago Fire Department’s Ambulance 51 arrived moments later. Paramedics classified Stewart as a “traumatic arrest, Red,” a designation used for patients with the most severe, life-threatening injuries who are in cardiac arrest due to trauma. They continued advanced life support as they raced him to the University of Chicago Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center renowned for treating the city’s most critically injured patients.

Despite the extensive efforts of police, paramedics, and the hospital’s emergency room staff, Stewart’s injuries were too severe. He was officially pronounced dead at 7:41 p.m. by Dr. Bolaji.

The Crime Scene and the Nascent Investigation

Back on South Calumet Avenue, the area was quickly cordoned off with yellow police tape as the investigation began in earnest. Area 5 detectives and evidence technicians began the methodical process of canvassing the scene for clues that could help them find the killer.

According to police reports, investigators recovered approximately five shell casings from the scene, which will be sent to a lab for ballistic analysis. This evidence can help determine the type of firearm used and can potentially be matched to a weapon used in other crimes. Detectives also recovered the victim’s cellphone and hat from the ground near his body.

The cellphone, in particular, could be a critical piece of evidence. Homicide detectives will seek a warrant to analyze its contents, looking for any recent calls, text messages, or social media interactions that could shed light on Stewart’s state of mind, his plans for the evening, and any potential conflicts that may have led to his murder.

As of now, the investigation is in its earliest and most critical stage. With no suspect in custody, detectives are relying on two primary avenues of investigation:

1. Surveillance Footage: They will be canvassing the entire area for any public or private security cameras—from nearby homes, businesses, or POD cameras—that may have captured the shooting itself, the suspect(s) fleeing the scene, or a vehicle used in the attack.
2. Community Cooperation: Detectives are strongly urging anyone from the neighborhood who may have seen or heard something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. In a neighborhood where fear of retaliation can often lead to silence, police are stressing the availability of anonymous tipping options.

Remembering LeBron “White Owl” Stewart

While police investigate the final moments of his life, a community is beginning to mourn the man they knew. LeBron Stewart, at 30 years old, was more than just a homicide victim; he was a known figure in his community, as evidenced by his nickname, “White Owl.”

Nicknames in close-knit Chicago neighborhoods are common, a sign of familiarity and belonging. As news of his death spread across social media late Thursday night and into Friday morning, tributes from friends and family began to appear. They paint a picture of a man who was loved, a familiar face whose sudden and violent absence is now a source of profound shock and grief.

“They took my brother from us,” one post read, accompanied by a photo of Stewart. “He didn’t deserve this. Another family torn apart for nothing. We need justice for White Owl.”

The posts reflect a community that is simultaneously heartbroken and weary, exhausted by a cycle of gun violence that continues to claim the lives of its young men. The family has not yet released a public statement and is asking for privacy as they grapple with their devastating loss.

A Familiar Tragedy for the Far South Side

The shooting occurred on the edge of Altgeld Gardens, a historic public housing community on the Far South Side of Chicago. The neighborhood, and the surrounding Calumet Heights area, has long grappled with the systemic issues that often fuel gun violence, including poverty, a lack of economic opportunities, and historic gang conflicts.

While the motive for LeBron Stewart’s murder is unknown, his death is a tragic data point in the area’s ongoing struggle. Community organizations and violence interrupter groups work tirelessly in these neighborhoods, often putting themselves at risk to mediate disputes and offer young people an alternative to the streets. However, they are often outmatched by the sheer volume of illegal firearms and the deep-seated nature of the conflicts they are trying to prevent.

This murder is a stark reminder of the challenges that persist in certain pockets of the city, far from the gleaming downtown skyline. For the residents of the Far South Side, the sound of sirens and the sight of yellow police tape are an all-too-familiar part of life. Each new homicide re-traumatizes a community that is already carrying the heavy burden of generations of violence and loss.

The Chicago Police Department is urging anyone with information about the murder of LeBron Stewart to contact the 5th District (Calumet) at (312) 747-8210 or to submit an anonymous tip online at CPDTIP.com. A single piece of information could be the key to bringing his killer to justice and providing a measure of closure for his grieving family.