Willie Buie

Willie Buie was a young father, student, and aspiring musician whose life revolved around family and music. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Willie grew up in West Englewood and later Calumet Park. He was the oldest of three children and had recently welcomed a son in November 2013, a role his family remembers as deeply important to him.

Willie attended Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn and went on to take classes at Prairie State College. He was pursuing practical experience in healthcare through an externship at Little Company of Mary Hospital while also nurturing a creative life outside of work and school. Music was Willie’s passion: he produced hip‑hop under the name “King Gunna” and worked toward a dream of sharing his music more widely.

Family members described Willie as someone who loved making music and who had hopes for the future — both for himself and for his child. Those who knew him in the neighborhood recalled a young man who wanted better for his family and who spent time with friends and relatives close to home. Though public records about his life are limited, the details available point to a person balancing responsibility, study, and artistic ambition.

Willie’s life was cut short on February 4, 2014, when he was fatally shot on the South Side of Chicago. That loss left a young son and a grieving family. Remembering Willie means holding onto the pieces of his life that friends and relatives shared publicly: a devoted new father, a student working toward a future, and an artist who loved creating music. His family’s wish for answers and for justice underscores how much he mattered to those who loved him.