CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A leader in Chicago's dance community was shot and killed Wednesday on the street not far from his dance studio in Grand Crossing, and his students are said to be heartbroken.
Latoya Smith said her 32-year-old brother, Verndell, was partially deaf.
"My brother, he's been dancing for over 25 years, and it was a passion of his. It was something that helped him cope with not being able to hear," she told WBBM Newsradio this week.
Verndell called his studio Silent Threat. His sister says it grew from three dancers to 150 at its height - kindergartners through age 18.
Verndell Smith in front of his dance studio.Chicago Sun-Times Media Wire
"They're devastated. A lot of these kids don't have fathers, and Verndell was a father to them. He went to school programs. He went to graduations."
Smith was walking near his studio late Wednesday morning when the driver of a silver SUV pulled into the parking lot and opened fire, hitting Smith in the leg, arm, forehead and torso, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
He was pronounced dead at University of Chicago Medical Center.
Chicago Police say there are no updates in the investigation into the murder.
An online fundraiser has been launched to raise reward money.
