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NCAVP mourns the death of 23-year-old Kenneth Paterimos in Chicago, IL, whose life was tragically lost February 21, 2020. According to local media reports, on a night out with his brothers at a well-loved bar, Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Paterimos, was attacked and stabbed to death following an argument with a stranger outside of the bar. Witnesses say the attacker yelled homophobic slurs at Kenny, who had recently come out to his family as bisexual.
On a GoFundMe page posted by Kenneth’s mother, she remembers him:
He was a hard worker, always helping someone. The bright light of my family, the one who ties us together is gone. No one should be victims of a crime, to lose a person at such a young age is not easy and I never thought I would have to bury my child.
She tells reporters, “Chicago lost one of its shining stars… I can’t describe [anything] else but he’s just charming. … I know I hear everybody say that about their loved ones. … Everybody under the sun said that about my son. … It takes a special person to make you feel that special.”
An unnamed 30-year-old suspect was held in custody and then released by Cook County. The Chicago Police Dept. day that the death is still under investigation.
We know it can be hard to read these reports of violence against our communities. If you need support in these difficult times, you can always reach out to your local NCAVP member. If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, you can reach our free bilngual national hotline at 212-714-1141 or report online for support.
NCAVP works to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-affected communities. NCAVP is a national coalition of local member programs and affiliate organizations who create systemic and social change. NCAVP is a program of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.