A man who was shot and killed while driving for Uber on Chicago’s West Side was laid to rest on Friday.
Jassen Cho, 38, and his 18-year-old passenger were killed in a drive-by shooting in Garfield Park last week, according to authorities.
Family and friends gathered in suburban Gurnee to pay their respects and say their final goodbyes to Cho.
“I’m grateful that I got to know him for so long because he really is a blessing, but I think everyone is just really sad,” said Johnnie Ulrich, victim’s friend.
Ulrich broke down just thinking about his childhood friend, who he grew up with in the Chicago suburbs.
“He was just always there for you as a friend. He was so much fun,” he said. “I have no idea how we’re going to find a way to replace that lost part of us.”
Close friends told NBC Chicago Cho worked as a senior financial advisor and lived his life to the fullest. He loved playing and coaching sports, hiking, exploring the outdoors and had an infectious personality, according to friends.
Jassen Cho was driving for Uber last week when he and his passenger were shot and killed in Chicago’s Garfield Park neighborhood.
“He just radiates this positive energy. The main thing, he makes everybody feel like they’re the best self. Everybody feels welcomed,” said Courtney Ulrich, victim’s friend. “Anything you could think or imagine he’s probably done it, skydiving—he truly lived life.”
Friends said they had no idea Cho was driving for Uber on the night he was killed along with his passenger, 18-year-old Damarion Johnson.
Police said someone in a grey SUV pulled up and fired shots into their vehicle in the 200 block of Homan Avenue.
NBC 5 learned a person of interest was taken into custody for questioning but has since been released without charges.
Loved ones said they just want the gunman caught and off the streets.
“We really want justice to be served and whoever was responsible for taking him from us,” Ulrich said. “We want to make sure that they’re brought to justice.”
Ulrich and his wife call out the senseless violence in the city that killed their friend.
“I think if any good could possibly come out of Jassen’s passing it should be this is a reminder and a call to arms that we need to protect our city and we need to make it a safer place,” he said.
Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for anyone with information that could lead to an arrest or conviction in this case. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
