CHICAGO (WLS) — A father who was shot to death on Chicago’s Northwest Side over the weekend is being remembered as selfless, hardworking, and someone who got along with everyone.
For the family of Andrew Garay, his death just does not seem real.
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“It’s just been complete shock, honestly. I don’t think any of us really genuinely know how to feel or even accept that he’s gone,” said Samantha Knutt, the victim’s sister.
An unknown gunman shot the 30-year-old Army veteran in the head around 9 p.m. Friday. Police said the gunman walked up to Garay, who was sitting in his vehicle, in the Humboldt Park neighborhood’s 3500-block of West Wabansia Avenue.
“He kissed me on my forehead three hours before and said, ‘Mom, I’ll be back in a little bit,'” said Debbie Knutt, the victim’s mother.
Garay’s relatives said he had just dropped off his girlfriend and her daughter at their home.
“They just got out of the car,” Samantha said. “They were up right at the apartment door when it happened.”
“Andrew just exuded this presence that made you feel safe, and he made you feel happy like I’ve never seen anybody, not like Andrew,” said Karjan Dambaugh, the victim’s cousin.
Why anyone would want to harm Garay is a mystery to his loved ones. They say Garay lived on the Northwest Side, and after leaving the Army, worked as a package delivery driver. He leaves behind a 7-year-old daughter.
“He would do anything under the sun for that girl. If she needed anything, okay, daddy’s got it. You want to play games? Daddy’s got it,” Samantha said.
“If he loved you, he loved with everything,” Karjan said. “He was the person that would show up randomly and just make everything right.”
Relatives say Garay aspired to be a Chicago police officer and was working toward applying. CPD is now investigating his murder and says no one is in custody.
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