20 years after the E2 Tragedy, the Ray Family Remembers Their Son

Tammy Gibson CNW Staff Writer

Ithas been 20 years since 21 young people lost their lives at the E2 (Epitome) nightclub on February 17, 2003. What was supposed to be a night of fun turned into one of the deadliest tragedies in Chicago history. A security guard(s) used pepper spray to break up a fight resulting in a stampede that led to people being crushed and trampled to death.

The lives lost at the E2 Night Club were Anton Meyers, 22, Bianca Ferguson, 24, Chanta Jackson, 26, Charita Rhodes, 19, Charles Kidd, 43, Damien Riley, 24, Danielle Greene, 24, DaShand R. Ray, 24, David M. Jones, 20, Debra Gill, 29, Demetrica Carwell, 23, Eazay Rodgers, 21, Kevin Gaydon, 24, LaTorya McGraw, 24, Maurice Robinson, 22, Michael Wilson, 22, Nicole Patterson, 22, Nicole Rainey, 24, Nita Anthony, 24, Robert Brown, 31 and Theresa Gordon, 31.

Howard and Mary Ray, the parents of DaShand Ray, say a part of them died the night of the E2 tragedy that claimed their son’s life. 20 years later, they are still feeling the pain. Howard Ray, Sr. often thinks about what DaShand may have become if he had lived. Ray says DaShand, was going to school at Columbia College in Chicago and planned to major in communications. “DaShand wanted to be a sportscaster. I look at some sportscasters today and wonder how far DaShand would have excelled in the sports industry”, his father said.

Mary says her son was comedic, loved to laugh, and took care of his family. “DaShand would call and make sure I made it home from work every day. If I weren’t at home, he would call me to ensure I got home safely. He was very protective,” says Mary. DaShand loved playing basketball, football and played a little bit of baseball. Mary says she thinks DaShand would have been a successful sportscaster. “He kept up with the stats of the players on various teams. He would have been successful either as a sportscaster or production manager. I reflect on what DaShand would be doing today every single day”, says Mary.

Howard Ray, Jr. remembers his younger brother as someone kind to people with friends who looked up to him. Ray Jr. says they would play basketball together, and DaShand was a fierce competitor. Ray Jr. credits his parents for their upbringing and the values they instilled in him to be successful. “We come from a great family and great things came out of all of us. I’m pursuing my dream, and my other brother is pursuing his. I know if my brother were alive today, he would have followed his dream to become a sportscaster.”

Ray Jr. is currently running for alderman of the 37th Ward. “A lot of things I’m advocating for are due to my brother seeing what he was trying to do to help