Football number of 8-year-old found shot to death to be retired
HAMILTON, Ohio (WKRC) - The Hamilton Saints are mourning the loss of one of their own, Chance Gilbert.
Chance was shot and killed in Mount Airy. Police found the 8-year-old in the parking lot of an apartment building off Hawaiian Terrace Sunday afternoon.
Chance was a Hamilton native and a third-grader at Riverview Elementary and a lover of football. He played for the Hamilton Saints.
O’Brien and Ryan Jarrett coached Chance.
“Chance was a beautiful person. If you got to meet Chance, he definitely made an impact on you,” O’Brien said. “If we have five Chances we’d be all right because Chance is the type of guy he’s a coachable kid, very respectable.”
Described as a star both on and off the field, his coaches say they’re still processing the news.
“I still wake up and think like is this real? Like not Chance. Because he was sweet,” O’Brien said.
“I can’t really say rest in peace because I feel like it wasn’t time for that baby to be resting,” O’Brien said. “I’m going to say run in paradise.”
Chances coaches plan to honor him next football season.
“We are going to retire his number. The number 8, it won’t be worn as a Saint no more,” O’Brien said.
“It’ll be chances number,” Ryan said.
A little boy with so much life left to live, his coaches want Chance to know: “You’ll truly be missed. You’re gone but you’ll never be forgotten. Never be forgotten. And you’ll always be a saint. A Hamilton Saint.”
The Hamilton school district released this statement regarding the loss of Chance:
“The district is heartbroken over the sad news of the passing of Chance. We send our love and support to his family and hope they find peace and comfort during this difficult time. Even in his young life, he has left a mark with his vibrant personality and will be sorely missed by our school community.”
Cincinnati Police are still investigating the circumstances around the shooting.
Police have yet to say if the shooting was intentional or accidental.
Cincinnati Police originally said Chance was 7-years-old, but Chance's mother tells Local 12 he was 8-years-old. His mother also tells Local 12 Chance has four other siblings.
Family members are currently working on funeral arrangements.