16-year-old and 17-year-old shot dead in South Chicago alley

CHICAGO - Two teenage boys were shot dead Saturday in South Chicago.

The teens, 16 and 17, were in an alley about 5:10 p.m. in the 7900 block of South Luella Avenue when a male suspect approached them and fired shots, Chicago police said.

The 17-year-old was shot in the back, chest and hand, police said. The 16-year-old was shot in the back and side.

Both teens were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the older boy as Jasean Francis. The 16-year-old’s identity has not been released.

An autopsy conducted Sunday confirmed Francis died of his gunshot wounds, the medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled a homicide.

Area Two detectives are investigating.

The teens were among six people shot dead across Chicago between Friday night and Saturday night. One of those victims was a three-year-old boy, shot dead while with his father.