Chicago chef Isaac 'Wavy' Bradley killed in Back of the Yards mass shoot

Isaac "Wavy" Bradley, a Chicago chef whose restaurant work had earned him a devoted following in the city, was one of two men who lost their lives in a mass shoot in the Back of the Yards neighbourhood on 5 June. He was 44 years old.

Bradley held a position as chef at Chemistry, a steakhouse situated in Chicago's Hyde Park neighbourhood, CBS Chicago reported. He was also the father of a 16-year-old son.

Over the course of his career, he co-founded several restaurants alongside his longtime business partner Erik Rico Nance, among them Stussy's Diner, LiteHouse Whole Food Grill, Soul Shack and Mikkey's Retro Grill.

"When he was passionate about something or someone, he just, he doesn't stop," his sister, Rhena, told the news station.

According to his family, Bradley had travelled to the neighbourhood that evening to cut someone's hair when he was shot.

'The definition of hospitality'

Bradley's business partner Nance paid tribute to the chef in an interview with NBC 5 Chicago, describing him in the most glowing of terms.

"This is literally the nicest human being you will meet," Nance said. "He is the definition of hospitality, the definition of love."

Nance went on to describe Bradley as a "master artist when it came to food."

GoFundMe for the Bradley family

Nance also launched a GoFundMe campaign in support of Bradley's family, referring to the late chef as one of Chicago's "most beloved culinary souls." The fundraiser was co-created by Bradley's sister Rhena, LaShonda Simmons, and EA Yisrael.

"Raised on the South Side, his love for cooking was born in his mother's kitchen and carried into everything he created," the description reads. "Over 19 years, he brought that same love to millions."

At the time of writing, the fundraiser had collected nearly $2,000 of its $80,000 target.

Details of the shoot

According to CBS Chicago, which cited local police, two men opened fire on a group of people standing outside in the 5100 block of South Wood Street at around 12:30 a.m. local time on 5 June. Two men, including Bradley, were described as "critically injured" before subsequently being pronounced dead.

A 23-year-old woman who sustained a gunshot wound to the head was listed in "critical condition" at Stroger Hospital. Three men and one woman were also transported to hospital with injuries described as "non-life-threatening."

Police are continuing their investigation into the incident, and no arrests have been made, CBS Chicago reported.