Friends are mourning the loss of a young community organizer who died Saturday after being shot while in a parked car in the West Elsdon neighborhood.

       Azul De La Garza, 18, who used they/them pronouns, was a youth organizer at Gage Park Latinx Council, a community-based organization focused on advancement in cultural and social justice, the organization’s director, Antonio Domingo Santos, said.

       “They were someone who cared about the community and worked hard toward making it a better place,” he said.

       De La Garza recently finished high school and dreamed of starting a business through their art, Domingo Santos said.

       Flowers are on the ground next to a car where Azul De La Garza, 18, was shot and killed in the West Elsdon neighborhood Saturday night, Sept. 27, 2021. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

       The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified them as Melissa De La Garza, 18. De La Garza was killed after being shot while sitting in a parked car in the 5400 block of South Avers Avenue about 8:30 p.m. Saturday. They were identified Sunday morning and lived on the same block where the shooting took place, according to information from the medical examiner’s office.

       They were shot multiple times in the torso and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition. Police could not provide additional details about the shooting due to the severity of the injuries, but said that De La Garza had been shot by a gunman who fled the scene on foot. They were pronounced dead at the hospital at 11:08 p.m.

       “Azul lit up every room they entered and treated everyone with love and kindness,” Domingo Santos said. “They were a connector who befriended and made feel comfortable the shyest people in the room. A brilliant artist, community organizer, friend and leader.”

       The Gage Park Latinx Council office was closed Monday to allow its members to mourn De La Garza.

       “This is a tremendous loss for our entire community, city and world,” Domingo Santos said.

       De La Garza’s family is raising funds for the funeral.

       scasanova@chicagotribune.com

       tsoglin@chicagotribune.com

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