The assistant principal at a Illinois charter school was identified as the person shot and killed during an argument late Thursday night inside a Chicago condo building, authorities said.
32-year-old Abnerd Joseph, who served as assistant principal of culture at Intrinsic Schools’ downtown campus, was shot at around 7:38 p.m. inside a high-rise building in the 10-100 block of East Monroe, according to authorities. Joseph sustained multiple gunshot wounds and taken to an area hospital where he died.
According to police, Joseph was involved in a verbal altercation with a man who produced a gun and fired shots, striking him. The suspect, a 45-year-old man, was taken into custody and had yet to be charged as of Friday afternoon.
The shooting remained under investigation by Area Three detectives.
Joseph, according to Intrinsic’s website, joined its downtown campus in the summer of 2022 and previously worked at KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools.
Ashley Joseph, his sister and one of his six siblings, described the beloved educator as “the most positive person you’d meet.”
“He made being smart cool and that influenced a lot of the youth, so he moved out to Chicago to make a difference in the world,” she said. “He went there to go do that, and he wasn’t done.”
Friends said Joseph was one of the smartest, kindest people they knew and someone who wanted to make a difference for Chicago’s youth.
““Children across the country by the hundred really are mourning his loss,” said friend Antwan Williams.
A spokesperson for Intrinsic School issued a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of Mr. Joseph who served our school as an empathetic leader, role model and inspiration for our students.”
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