The bright future of 16-year-old Kabiru Adewunmi was tragically killed last Tuesday night, as he was walking with friends to a convenience store on Chicago’s South Side.

Adewunmi, an optimistic, intelligent teen born in Nigeria, had played for the Chicago Fire’s 17-and-under soccer league, where he attracted the attention of Division I scouts from around the country.

But on the night of his death, Adewunmi was celebrating a different sport. The Chicago Bulls had just eliminated the Indiana Pacers in the NBA playoffs, advancing to the conference semifinals. Adewunmi and his friends were celebrating that win when they were attacked.

The incident appeared to be gang-related, although Adewunmi had just moved to the neighborhood and had no connection to gangs.

He was found unresponsive in an alley, and was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds.