Evanston Police believe the killing of Evanston teen Justin Murray was gang-related.

Murray, 19, was fatally shot Thursday night in the 1800 block of Brown Avenue, less than one block from Evanston Township High School. He gradated from ETHS in 2011.

“The incident itself has initial indicators that it was gang-related based on canvassing of the neighborhood, talking to witnesses and how the shooting occurred,” EPD Cmdr. Jay Parrott said this afternoon.

Investigators do not believe Murray was a gang member, but “it’s too early to tell whose company (he) associated with and what their relationship was,” Parrott said.

Around 6 p.m. Thursday, EPD received reports of shots fired on Brown Avenue, where they found a wounded Murray. The teen, an Evanston resident, was transported to Evanston Hospital and was pronounced dead at 6:58 p.m.

The investigation is in its early stages and ongoing, Parrott said. There are no suspects in custody as of Friday afternoon.

Murray’s death comes just over two months after 14-year-old Dajae Coleman was shot and killed while walking home from a party, prompting community outrage and a gun buyback program to be held next month.

— Marshall Cohen