In the wake of a tragic weekend shooting on Chicago’s Northwest Side, the life of Andrew Garay is being celebrated by those who knew him as a selfless and hardworking individual, cherished for his ability to connect with everyone around him.

The abrupt loss has left Garay’s family grappling with disbelief and sorrow. “It’s been a complete shock, honestly,” expressed his sister, Samantha Knutt. “I don’t think any of us truly know how to feel or even begin to accept that he’s gone.”

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Andrew Garay, a 30-year-old Army veteran, met a tragic end when an unidentified assailant shot him in the head around 9 p.m. on Friday. According to police reports, the incident occurred on the 3500 block of West Wabansia Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Garay was in his vehicle when the gunman approached.

Debbie Knutt, Garay’s mother, shared a poignant memory from that day: “He kissed me on my forehead three hours before and said, ‘Mom, I’ll be back in a little bit.’”

“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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