An article posted July 21 on NBC5.com quoted a Lakeview-area lieutenant as saying that last month's fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old was the result of a month-long 'war' between gays and transsexuals, but police say that statement is completely unfounded.
Shawn Sparks was fatally stabbed July 3 on the street at 938 W. Belmont around 1:30 a.m. Police say the victim knew his attacker, who fled east down Belmont.
'Officially, the homicide of the 16-year-old was between mutual combatants,' Chicago Police Department news affairs deputy director Pat Camden told Windy City Times. 'They knew each other. A verbal altercation became physical.'
Police located the suspect, but charges have been rejected.
'Charges were rejected because the person that did the stabbing claimed self-defense and everything appears to point to that direction,' Camden said. 'I don't know where this other stuff is coming from. There's nothing to back it up.'