Police Question Man About Teen's Beating Death

From: WMAQ-TV, IL - Jun 11, 2003

Honor Student May Not Have Heard His Attacker

CHICAGO -- Chicago police said they are questioning a "person of interest" in the beating death of 17-year-old Kevin Gavin.

Witnesses said Gavin was trying to break up a fight near his home, in the 3500 block of West 85th Place, when a person came up from behind and began beating him with a baseball bat. Police said he may not have heard his attacker because he was deaf in one ear.

The fatal attack happened on May 31.

Gavin was well-liked among his peers and will be remembered as a hardworking, ambitious young man, according to Morgan Park High School Assistant Varsity Football Coach Milton Biggins. Gavin aspired to play college football and "certainly worked hard enough to attain that dream, even though he couldn't hear," Biggins said last week.

"He'd come in before school to lift weights and run, and he'd pack a lunch so he could work out over his lunch break," Biggins added.

Gavin played cornerback and helped lead the Morgan Park Mustangs football team to a 9-5 record and a berth in the state playoffs last fall. He also ran in the 4x200 meter relay for the track team, according to Biggins.

"It's amazing to see what he's been able to accomplish despite his disability," said Biggins. "He's an honor roll student."

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