14-Year-Old Des Plaines Boy Shot Dead Friday Night

On the first day of classes in the new year, grief counselors will be available for Iroquois Community School students following the weekend shooting death of a 14-year-old classmate.

Patrick Boswell, 14, of the 1600 block of Morse Avenue in Des Plaines, was shot to death Friday night at about 9 p.m. in Rosemont. He was found on the ground outside an apartment complex in the 10400 block of Carol Court. Neighbors told NBC Chicago that the boy was often seen skateboarding in the neighborhood. He lived in Des Plaines about a mile away from where the shooting took place.

Boswell died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on Saturday following an autopsy.

Boswell was an eighth-grader at Iroquois School in Des Plaines.

“During this terrible loss, please keep the Iroquois families and staff and the Des Plaines community in your thoughts and prayers. We are a strong and determined community. Supporting each other is very important now and in the future,” Mindy Ward, the director of community relations in District 62, said in a statement.

Rosemont detectives and the Major Case Assistance Team are investigating. Neighbors reported hearing four gunshots.

“Investigators are working to determine whether or not this is a gang-related incident,” Rosemont Cmdr. Gregory Nazuka told the Daily Herald.

The Chicago Sun-Times on Saturday reported that Boswell posted photographs of himself on his Facebook page throwing gang signs while standing in front of a Des Plaines police car.