WHITING, Ind. – A community in Whiting, Indiana, gathered to honor the memory of a 14-year-old Chicago teenager, Damien Abenante-Villa, who was tragically shot and killed while visiting family in Northwest Indiana nearly a month ago. The incident has left family and friends seeking answers in the wake of the senseless violence that took the young boy’s life.
Damien’s father, Alexander Villa, is currently serving a life sentence for the shooting death of off-duty Chicago police officer Clifton Lewis in 2011, a conviction surrounded by controversy. The family continues to grapple with the loss of their only son, who was fatally shot in front of loved ones in Whiting.
The emotional vigil held for Damien brought together a community shattered by the teen’s untimely death, with a pastor leading calls for justice against the darkness of the tragedy. Heartbreak and anger permeate the atmosphere at the site of the shooting, where loved ones mourn the loss of a young life taken too soon.
Amanda Abenante, Damien’s mother, expressed her devastation at the loss of her son, describing the profound impact he had on her life. The shooting took place while Damien was visiting his family in Indiana for a cousin’s birthday celebration, where a walk to the park ended in tragedy with shots fired in their direction.
As the family continues to seek closure and answers from authorities in Whiting, questions loom over the circumstances surrounding Damien’s death. With no arrests made and no clear motive provided by the police nearly a month after the shooting, the case remains unresolved.
In the midst of their grief, the family also faces the ongoing legal battle for Alexander Villa’s exoneration, as his attorney fights with new evidence to challenge the conviction in the murder of Officer Clifton Lewis. Despite the obstacles, they cling to hope for justice and closure in the face of this heartbreaking loss.