WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderPolice looking for 15-year-old in murder of Rockford teen

Police looking for 15-year-old in murder of Rockford teen

By Marissa Alter

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Rockford police are looking for a 15-year-old suspect accused of gunning down a 16-year-old boy in broad daylight.

Investigators say around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday Christopher Fryer was shot in the neck in front of 1202 Mulberry Street, one of his relative's address. He was found around the corner on Oakwood Avenue, a trail of blood was found between the two locations.

Family members gathered at the crime scene Wednesday night as they simultaneously grieved and wondered why. It's a situation they've unfortunately dealt with before.

Lavrne Jackson stared at his nephew Christopher's blood, staining the sidewalk. Family huddled nearby, alternating emotions of grief and disbelief. It's the second time many of them gathered at a murder scene. Nearly 14 years ago, Lavrne's brother, Lamont, was shot to death on a Rockford street. Today his nephew, nicknamed "Spyder", faced the same fate.

"I got on him last year about missing school. I got him, and I told him just last week, you know school's coming up. And he said, Unc, I'm ready," says Lavrne. 

Christopher was in 10th grade, set to start at Guilford High School in just three weeks. Friends and family call him an athlete who played basketball and football.

"So I said to him, we're going to do a little training. We're gonna go play some hoops. And it was supposed to be today."

Lavrne's phone rang this afternoon, telling him their game was canceled and wouldn't be rescheduled. This evening he joined family members who wanted to see the truth for themselves.

As Christopher's relatives joined together, so did friends like Michael Blue. "He was a cool person, played sports, hung out with everybody. Cool," remembers Michael.

Michael camped out across from the crime scene, hoping to get some answers from police about what happened to his friend. "I don't believe it. I just don't believe it."

Investigators took several witnesses downtown to interview. They haven't made an arrest yet, but think there was just one shooter. They're looking for a 15-year-old boy, described as black, 5'6 to 5'8, 200 to 250 lbs, wearing a blue shirt and blue hat. Police say he is armed with a handgun.

If you know anything, call Rockford Police at 815-987-5824 or Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.