Isaiah Burton, a 17-year-old who has been an advocate for legal changes in both Chicago and the broader state of Illinois, found himself a victim of violence. He was shot several times in a North Side park during an incident that police are classifying as a robbery carried out by another teenager.
In May, Isaiah delivered a speech in Springfield, emphasizing his commitment to advocacy by campaigning against the use of AI in therapy across Illinois. He stated, “Today, I’m standing here to break that silence.”
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A young voice for change was almost silenced in an armed robbery in the West Ridge neighborhood.
J. Burton, Isaiah’s father, recounted the event, saying, “The assailant fired at him and stole his backpack and phone while he was on the ground, despite there being many children present in the park.”
The shooting occurred last month near Granville and Hoyne in West Ridge while Isaiah, who is both a student at Mather High School and a community leader, was waiting for a friend. His father shared the harrowing details with ABC7 during a phone interview.
He explained, “An individual approached Isaiah from behind on a scooter, brandished a gun, and demanded his possessions. Though Isaiah refused, the attacker insisted, citing financial desperation for needing the backpack and phone.”
Isaiah then tried to run away toward kids playing soccer nearby.
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“From what he told me, he said, ‘I’m thinking he won’t shoot me, because I’m in this park surrounded by people and kids,'” J. said.
Isaiah was shot three times.
Chicago police announced the arrest of another 17-year-old boy, now charged with Attempted Murder and Armed Robbery, on Tuesday.
The attack came just months after Isaiah gave his speech in Springfield.
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“We deserve to heal. We deserve to be heard. We deserve real support,” Isaiah said in his speech. “We need real people who care for us.”
His efforts also backed this summer’s youth-led initiative in Chicago against the now-failed city curfew ordinance.
Even though Isaiah was in the hospital, Maria Paula Degillo from Communities United noted that his supporters continued to advocate for their cause, taking their fight to City Hall to support the bill he was so passionate about.
Isaiah remains at Northwestern Hospital, recovering from multiple surgeries. But his family hopes he will be out of the hospital soon to continue his advocacy work.
“I want to see my son grow up. I want to see him live a long life,” J. said.
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