Family Grieves for a Son, Brother and Friend Murdered in Lake View

More than 1,000 people attended the wake and funeral for 25-year-old Kevin O’Malley at Our Lady of the Woods Church. The Palos Park native and Stagg High School graduate was murdered May 30, shot twice in the chest after he was mugged on Chicago’s North Side.

A newly minted CPA, O’Malley was living his dream, according to his family. His mother, father, brothers, sister and girlfriend recently sat for an exclusive interview with NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern, sharing their memories, grief and pain.

He and his twin brother Brian spoke their own secret language as children. They were as close as twins could be. He was kind and made friends easily. After passing his CPA exam, he was tutoring others prepping for the test. He’d found a good job.

“He was the type of person, once you were his friend, you were his friend for life,” his father, Brian, told NBC.

O’Malley met his girlfriend, Michelle Rinck, at Stagg High School. He was murdered on her 25th birthday. She says he’s now her guardian angel.

Chicago Police apprehended a man with O’Malley’s cell phone quickly after watching surveillance tapes of the scene, and the family is grateful for that. He’s charged with first-degree murder.

“Besides taking Kevin’s life, what (the killer) did affects all of us,” his father said. “He took part of us with him.”

WATCH NBC CHICAGO’S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW