A fundraiser was started for a family of an upcoming high school senior after he was shot and killed during a robbery outside their Zion home Thursday evening.
Diego Carreto, 17, was fatally shot while he was being robbed near his home in Zion, a GoFundMe account said.
The fundraiser was organized by a friend and co-worker of the boy’s mother, Melissa Siegel.
An autopsy completed on Friday by Lake County Coroner’s Office showed Carreto died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest.
The Zion Police Department and Zion Fire/Rescue Department responded around 8:35 p.m. Thursday to the 2900 block of Gideon Avenue for a report of shots fired and a person shot.
Officers arrived and found Carreto with a gunshot wound to his chest, according to a statement by the Zion Police Department.
Paramedics transported the boy to an area hospital where he later died.
Carreto was an upcoming senior at the Zion-Benton Township High School.
“He was just 17 years old. He was so loved and will be sadly missed by Melissa, his three siblings. Kenyeta, Gwen, D’Lon along with many friends and family,” the fundraiser said.
Siegel is a single mom and donations will be used to help with funeral costs and to help her family financially.
Zion police detectives โworked tirelessly throughout the nightโ and identified a 15-year-old boy as a suspect.
The 15-year-old was arrested early Friday morning and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, police said.
He was later transported to the Robert W. Depke Juvenile Complex Center in Vernon Hills.
A candlelight vigil was held Sunday evening.
Over 100 donors raised nearly $12,000 for Siegel’s family as of Monday morning.
Siegel is grateful for the support she has received so far, an update said.