- Credibility:
CHICAGO — A Northwestern University graduate student waiting at a bus stop near the Chicago-Evanston border was shot and killed by a stray bullet during a shootout between two other people, university officials said.
Shane Colombo was hit and killed at about 8:25 p.m. Sunday while waiting at a bus stop near Howard and Clark, officials said.
Colombo died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“The love of my life and partner was shot and killed yesterday. He is the most handsome, brilliant and quirky man I know,” Vincent Perez, Colombo’s partner, wrote in a post on Facebook. “I will miss you, Shane.”
Colombo’s mother, Tonya Colombo, shared a photo of her and her son at his graduation, writing on Facebook, “I miss you, my baby. Shane, I remember this day well. I couldn’t stop crying … tears of joy.”
Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro issued a statement Monday alerting students of the slaying and mourning Colombo’s death.
“We were deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic death yesterday in Chicago of one of our incoming Northwestern Ph.D. students,” Schapiro wrote. “Shane Colombo, 25, was waiting at a bus stop in the Rogers Park area of Chicago when he was shot and killed in the crossfire of an exchange of gunshots between two men.
“Many members of our Northwestern University community live in that area, and we condemn this awful and senseless act of violence and mourn the passing of Shane, a promising student who was to join our Psychology Ph.D. program this fall. We offer our condolences and kindest thoughts to his family and friends and all who knew him.
“This is a terrible loss for our community, and we all feel grief and heartbreak for Shane and his loved ones.”
Colombo was a graduate from San Francisco State University, Northwestern officials said.
He was in the process of moving to Chicago from New York City, where he was doing research at Columbia University’s Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab.
“Our hearts and minds are with Shane’s loved ones during this difficult time,” Northwestern officials said. “We extend our deepest condolences to Shane’s partner, Vincent, and all of his family members and friends. “
