Beloved producer and DJ SqueakPIVOT was fatally shot Aug. 16 in Austin.
Squeak, 26, was the in-house producer and DJ for the West Side hip hop collective, Pivot Gang, fronted by the rapper Saba.
The shooting happened shortly after 12:30 p.m. Monday on the 5000 block of West St. Paul Avenue, police said. Squeak’s uncle, Darion Hood, 27, was also killed in the shooting, which happened near Hood’s home, the TRiiBE reported.
Both victims were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they died, Chicago Police said. No other details about the shooting were immediately available.
Born Javunte Wheeler, Squeak most recently released an EP in June, En Route, in collaboration with fellow Pivot Gang artist MFnMelo.
Fans of Squeak and Pivot Gang took to social media to share their condolences, offer support to the family and reflect on the young artist’s legacy.
Southside hip hop artist J Bambii said she appreciated how Squeak always represented the West Side, and she cherished the deep conversations they shared together.
“It felt so good to share heart space with my g. Cause vulnerability is my bag, and to have the space where my friend can be open as a Black Man touched me so deeply,” Bambii posted on Twitter.
Pivot Gang suffered another painful loss in 2017 when one of their founding members, John Walt, was stabbed to death at the age of 24. Walt was the cousin of Pivot Gang cofounder Saba. The 2018 album Care For Me was Saba’s tribute to Walt’s memory.
“For them to have to go through this again is heartbreaking. … It’s clear Squeak made a beautiful connection with so many people in Chicago and beyond,” said Patrick Welby on Twitter.
