'My Purpose Is Bigger Than Basketball': Dwyane Wade Wants to Unite Chicago in the Wake of His Cousin's Death (VIDEO)

CHICAGO — Only a week after his cousin was tragically shot and killed while pushing her infant daughter in a stroller, Chicago native and newly signed Bulls guard Dwyane Wade says he and his family are still reeling from the tragedy.

"It was shocking. It was shocking to hear not only that she was murdered, but it was shocking to hear the way and how. The family is torn up," Wade said in an interview with Good Morning America that aired Friday.

Nykea Aldridge, 32, was fatally shot in the head and arm Aug. 26 outside Dulles School for Excellence on Chicago's South Side. Aldridge, a mother of four, had just finished enrolling one of her kids in school when she was murdered. Her daughter in the stroller was unharmed.

Derren Sorrells, 22, and Darwin Sorrells, 26, each have been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. The brothers are known gang members, and both were on parole in connection with previous gun charges. Their intended target in the shooting was a 25-year-old driver-for-hire they had been following, and not Aldridge.

Wade said his cousin's murder has provided more motivation for him to try to help unite Chicago as the city struggles with a skyrocketing homicide rate and a fractured relationship between its citizens and the police force sworn to protect and serve them.

More Patch Coverage of Nykea Aldridge's Murder

• Young Mom Shot Dead as She Pushed Newborn Baby in a Stroller Past Chicago School
• Killing of Dwyane Wade's Cousin Yet Another Reason to 'VOTE TRUMP,' Tweets Trump
• 2 Brothers Charged in Killing of Chicago Mom Nykea Aldridge

"I really think now my purpose for being back in the city is bigger than basketball," said Wade, who participated in an ESPN-sponsored town hall meeting on Chicago's violence the night before Aldridge was killed. "Basketball is a big part of it, of course, it's what I do for a living. But I think my purpose at the end of the day is, hopefully, to come to Chicago and be a part, and be the voice that can help bring people together."

During Friday's interview, the NBA all-star also discussed how he felt about his name increasing the attention given to Aldridge's death, what he teaches his kids about dealing with violence and the police, and how he felt about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tweeting his condolences.

Here are some of the highlights of the interview:

Wade's Fame and Coverage of His Cousin's Murder

"I want my family to grieve in private as much as possible. But because my name is attached to it, it becomes this national story. A lot of things I'd seen [didn't even use] her name. That hurt me. To be the name they talked about instead of talking about a mother of four. That kind of hurt me and put me in a dark place for a few hours."

Growing Up in a Violent City

"I grew up in probably one of the toughest eras when it comes to murders in the early '90s in Chicago. I grew up in that era of the same things that our kids are going through, of being afraid to go outside.

"I was a kid who wanted to play basketball, who got lucky and was able to have mentors in my life to help me. And I think that's one thing a lot of our kids are missing, it's mentorship. If we want to stop this epidemic, it's needed now."

What Wade Teaches His Sons

"You try to tell them right from wrong, but then they come back to you and say, 'Well, Dad, kids are being killed by police officers. I thought you said police officers were safe.'

"My boys are afraid of the police just the same way I was when I was growing up. Not all police, obviously, but my boys hear everything that's going on in the world, all the harassment, all the murders that's going on. And they pose the question back to me and what answer do I have for them?"

Change Starts at the Top

"They [police] are, they are fighting a war. And they can do a lot better, but they can get more help, as well, to do better. There are other cities that have way tougher gun laws, and we have to do a better job at being leaders, all of us. The leadership in our world today, in our communities, is suffering, big time."

Wade's Reaction to Donald Trump's Tweets

"I was kind of conflicted. On one hand, your cousin's death is used as a ploy for political gain. On the other hand, it's a national story. It goes back to that for me. I want eyes on the city. I want us to be able to do more together, and the only way we can do more together is if more people know what's going on. I was grateful it started a conversation. But on the other hand, it was a bad taste in my mouth because of what my family is dealing with and what our city of Chicago is dealing with and it looks like it's been used as a political gain."

A trust fund for Aldridge's four children has been created, and donations can be sent to Seaway National Bank, Attn: Daryl Newell, Chief Retail Officer, 645 E. 87th Street, Chicago, IL 60619.

PHOTO: Dwyane Wade (Image via ABC)

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