AURORA TOWNSHIP — An East Aurora High School senior who moved to Aurora earlier this year because his military mother was serving in Iraq was shot and killed late Sunday while walking to a friend's house in an unincorporated area.

Robert L. Rem, 17, who moved in with his grandmother in the 1300 block of Star Avenue in April, was headed north in the 800 block of Birchwood Avenue at 8:10 p.m. when he was shot at least four times in the head and body, said Kane County Sheriff's Sgt. Dave Wagner. Family members said he was shot multiple times in the knee and once in the head.

Rem and his younger brother were supposed to move back to Germany today to live on a U.S. Army military base — the same base they moved from eight months ago — now that his mother has completed her duty in Iraq. He would have graduated from high school in Germany in June.

"He really didn't want to move here," said grandmother Magnolia Dominguez, who also cared for Rem several years ago when his mother was serving in Korea. "But he had to because his mother was mobilized."

Wagner said the shooting appears to be gang-related in some way, though he could not say whether Rem had gang ties or simply had some fringe association through friends. Rem's grandmother said he was not in a gang, having been in Aurora for such a short time, and suggested the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.

Rem was taken to Provena Mercy Center in Aurora after the shooting, where he was initially treated for life-threatening injuries. He died at 10:18 p.m. as preparations were being made to take him to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for more extensive treatment.

"They were getting ready to airlift him to Loyola, but he died at Mercy," Wagner said.

Deputies said some witnesses saw a car flee the scene. The vehicle was described as a small- to medium-sized dark car with gold trim.

A total of six to nine shots were fired.

Supposed to fly out today


After completing his first three years of high school in Germany, Rem enrolled at East High in April. He moved to Aurora after his mother, Warrant Officer Wendy Galloway, was deployed to Kuwait.

Galloway, an Aurora native, served in Kuwait and Iraq for five months until August, when she returned to Germany. She then spent a few months taking an officer's course at Fort Lee, Va., before again going back to Germany and preparing for her two sons to move back there.

Rem and 11-year-old Darren Galloway were booked on a flight scheduled for today and would have made it back to the base in Babenhausen, Germany, in time for Christmas. Rem was looking forward to moving back to Germany and graduating from high school with his friends, family members said.

Dominguez said she never thought her grandson would be the one to get gunned down, given his mother's 21 years in the Army and the volatile situation overseas.

"She's fighting for her country in Iraq, and they're killing her son here," Dominguez said.

Mother returns from Germany


Galloway flew back from Germany on Monday morning and is taking at least a 30-day leave from her base. She said her son planned to pursue a music career — he was a rapper — in college, either in New York or North Carolina. She still plans to move back to Germany with her youngest son.

Dominguez said Rem was walking alone to a friend's house to borrow a CD when he was killed. He was wearing a hat with a hood over it and headphones, she said.

His mother said she never feared the gangs in Aurora, especially because things were safer when she graduated from East High in 1982.

"I knew that they were here," Galloway said. "I told him to be careful, but he's a 17-year-old boy."

Rem lived a few blocks north of where he was shot on the other side of East Indian Trail near Farnsworth Avenue. Birchwood Avenue is just south of Simmons Park in a small unincorporated area in Aurora Township.

A funeral service has not yet been planned. An autopsy is scheduled for this morning.

The Kane County sheriff's office is asking anyone with information about Rem's murder to contact investigations at (630) 208-2030 or (630) 208-2031.




12/23/03

this is such a horrible event. my condolences to his family....

We all must get together on this and help the family. We should preserve his memory and show them that he will never be forgotten here. I am on vacation, but I will call the sheriff in order to get the address for condolences etc. Everyone should show his family that we care.

Leflaw im wit u man,i used to chill wit him for a minute b4 skool,and know he dead,dats some realy sad shit.My sis was the one who told me of his death because i got kicked out of the base in germany for fightin and her friend called her and told us he died and then we got an email about his death and we juss froze and we both nearly juss were so shocked and it left us in tears.Condolences to Iceburg witch is his best freind.Your always in our memories Rob.RIP
=1=

Eazz, tell us all what you think we should do.

Thanx and Peace.


Leflaw

I am there for sure please be sure to post info on this leflew.

This is bad news always something we all don't really want to hear, I know I went to a funeral Thanksgiving to be with my best friend he had to bury his youngest sister it was hit and run.

My condolence to the family of the slain boy, Hope they catch the perpetrators who did it.
let there be some peace knowing we care.

please add this to dmusic site...like some kinda notice

My most fervant wishes that this young man's family finds strength in each other. Though I have never met them, they are in my prayers...

I wish to express my condolences; it's always a tragedy when a person dies in the needless, stupid, dumb gang violence. What are the gangs, but the Molecules of Evil? What are they for, but to destroy young individuals' lives? Who are their leaders but the ruthless, nazi-like murderers and brainwashers, who subdue the weak and simple hearts and souls to their evil whims and plots?

WHAT HAS HE DIED FOR ??
Anyway, May he Rest in Peace.

-- Critto

Condolences to his friends, family, and fans. Sad.

Peace.
~Code

So sad so sad, to honor this young mans memory we should hound congress and everyone else to make any gang related killing or drug deal a death penatly offence, and anyone who recruits 11 and 12 yr olds to do it for them should be executed too. Zero tolerance for these puke sucking punks and cowards.

What a very sad happening my condolences to his friends and family.

Here is my hope the family somehow makes it through all this. Guns kill...simple and why do we have so many of them out there? Its getting nuts out there, where it is not safe for kinds and moms.
Here is hoping we can make a small part of this world better with music.
Still Pickin'
Bill Hudson

Sorry meant "kids and Moms".

Dang, I still can'
t believe this happened. I miss him so much, I can't even imagine what his girl feel like. We cool and I don't even know how to approach her anymore. I just hope his family gets over the hurt.
R.I.P. Rob, Hanau miss ya.

R...
I...
P...

He was a good kid, you kno. His music, it's just somethin' a niggah can definately feel. Best of luck to his family and friends. Cos' even tho he ain't here, his presence is. May he be forever rappin'. Like "Street Tale", we always thought yous' an angel, now yous' one.

R.I.P.
Robert Rem