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Family Says Slain 13-Year-Old Boy A 'Smart Kid,' Had No Gang Ties

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Just 13 years-old, Leonardo Betancourt was shot to death while inside a moving car Monday.

His family says the young man had no gang ties and just lived life to the fullest. CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot spent the day with his family.

"He was a real smart kid," said Erik Betancourt, Leonardo's brother. "He always liked to play around. Go the park, play with his friends."

That was everyday life for 13 year-old Leonardo Betancourt.

"I never thought that this would happen to us, losing the little one," Erik said.

The youngest of four children, Betancourt was shot in the back while driving by Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in the Back of the Yards neighborhood Monday night. The teen was a passenger in a car when someone in a vehicle behind him opened fire.

"There was another student in the car with him from his class and they were driving with people in their mid-twenties," said 15th Ward Alderman Ray Lopez. "We believe that the car they were in was the intended target and the bullet from behind pierced the young man through the seat."

The A/B student was a 7th grader at Seward Elementary. Sources say while he had no gang ties, one of the older people in the car may have been connected to a gang.

"They were trying to get somebody else," said Karina Betancourt, Leonardo's sister. "I don't know if they got the car confused I don't know, but this, this was all wrong. This shouldn't have happened."

Karina says she would tell the shooter, "I hope that you go to jail…You took someone great out of this world. Someone who could of changed things out here."

His sister says Leonardo was focused on getting out of the neighborhood and was also part of the local church group. Police say the search for suspects in the shooting continues.

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