There wasn’t anyone that Anny Cho knew who lived and laughed as hard, who wanted to experience every minute of every day as much as her older brother.
Losing that vibrancy is something she can’t put into words, Anny Cho says.
Jassen Cho was among two shot and killed Thursday night in a drive-by shooting in the East Garfield Park neighborhood, according to family and Chicago police. The 38-year-old was slain alongside 18-year-old Damarion Johnson, a senior at Christ the King Jesuit College Prep in Austin who had dreamed of playing college basketball, per loved ones and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
The two men were driving in the 200 block of North Homan Avenue when a grey SUV pulled up alongside them and someone inside opened fire just before 8:30 p.m., police said. Both were shot and pronounced dead at the hospital.
Cho, who was driving, suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:54 p.m., according to a police report obtained by the Tribune.
Johnson was sitting in the rear passenger seat and suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, shoulder and legs. He was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 9 p.m., the report said.
Witnesses told investigators they saw the SUV flee the scene after the shooting. Surveillance footage reviewed by police appeared to show a gray Hyundai Tucson pulling alongside the victims’ vehicle before shots were fired, according to the report.
A Hyundai Tucson was later found burning at 952 N. Lawler Ave. and was recovered by investigators for further processing, the report said. Police recovered 12 fired .40-caliber shell casings, a fired bullet and a bullet fragment from the scene.
No arrests had been made as of Friday night as Harrison area detectives investigated.
Anny Cho had last seen her brother on Tuesday morning, she said. They had plans to see each other again Friday.
Though she now lives in California, she and her brother had grown up in Albany Park, Anny Cho said. She just happened to be in town this week.
Anny Cho said her brother was the “leader of the family.”
“He held us all together,” she told the Tribune through tears Friday afternoon. “My mom’s a single mom. He really took on that responsibility.”
She described her brother as joyful, smart and adventurous. He’d gone skydiving and scuba diving, traveled to countries alone and climbed mountains. He didn’t like other people to be sad — would sometimes wear costumes to make others laugh — had “unending energy” and was the best uncle to her daughter, Anny Cho said.
Cho’s girlfriend, who was reached over the phone briefly Friday night and asked not to be named, said Cho’s joy was contagious. Their first anniversary was this weekend, she said. They had planned to celebrate with dinner — he was going to surprise her with the restaurant.
Cho was a financial analyst but had been driving for Uber on the side, his girlfriend said. He always saw the best in people.
His girlfriend said she doesn’t know how she’ll move forward and that she’ll admire Cho forever.
Loved ones of Johnson remembered the 18-year-old as extremely humble, charismatic and a promising young basketball player.
“His dream was to play college basketball,” said Troy Caldwell, head varsity coach at Christ the King.
Johnson had been getting ready to sign with a college in Wisconsin, according to Caldwell. He was set to go on a school visit in a couple of weeks.
“Things were lining up for him,” Caldwell said. “The future was lining up. I think he felt that and knew that. That’s why this is so tragic.”
Caldwell met Johnson last year, after the young player had transferred to Christ the King for his senior year. He soon joined the school’s basketball team and three games into the season, was made a captain. Caldwell said Johnson, between his dedication and work ethic, commanded respect from his fellow players.
Caldwell, who’s been with Christ the King for nine years, said all of his players become sons to him and that Johnson was no different.
“It’s been a hard day for us,” he said.
Chicago Tribune’s Caroline Kubzansky contributed.
