CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE: A former CPS basketball star was gunned down while defending a friend Thursday night - and now police are searching for his killer.
Michael Haynes, 22, had a promising career and was leaving the city on Tuesday to play for Division I team when he was fatally shot.
Haynes' cousin Kandice Blouin, 25, said he was killed while trying to break up a fight over a stolen necklace near his Far South Side home.
He was shot in the wrist, chest, and lower back at about 5:15 p.m. on the 11600 block of South Vincennes Avenue.
Acquaintances dropped him off at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, where he was declared dead about 6:25 p.m., authorities said.
Blouin said several men were shoving each other when Haynes pushed the shooter, who pulled out a gun and shot him.
Hayes' basketball career involved a number of destinations. In May he committed to Iona College in New York and it looked like his dream of playing Division I basketball was finally coming true.
"He was an innocent victim, very loved by everybody," Blouin said. "He was our meal ticket. He was going to heal this hood and they took his life."
Friends and family called him a gentle giant, who would come to anyone's aid.
Haynes' uncle, Robert Kimbrough, said he hopes the police find the shooter before they do, because this heinous act would not go unanswered. His nephew was only standing up for his friend who couldn't stand up for himself - because that's the kind of person he was.
As a freshman in high school, he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds at Corliss High School. Sophomore year, he teamed with Deandre Liggins at Washington and led the Minutemen to the city championship game at the United Center, where they lost to Simeon and Derrick Rose.
"When I got the news I was devastated. I was hurt," said Steve Dockery, who coached Haynes at Corliss. "I don't know what's going on anymore.
"I know he had just signed with Iona. He talked with my son [former Duke player Sean Dockery] last week and Sean told him he should get out of Chicago as soon as he could."
Haynes left Washington for Fenger after his junior year, but wasn't eligible to play. He wound up at Heat Academy in Virginia, then committed to University of Texas El Paso but never played there.
The CPS hoops star eventually landed at Indian Hills Junior College last season, where he played well enough to get offers from a number of Division I schools.
Haynes is survived by his father and three brothers and sisters. His mother passed away when Haynes was 11.
Haynes' father was too overcome with grief to speak with FOX Chicago News Friday morning, but he said his son was so close to getting out of the city of Chicago and pursuing his dream.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
