Student killed over chain necklace
Photo credit: Claire Jaques/Collegian
Franklyn's younger sister holds a high school portrait of him in July, 2005.
By Dan O'Brien, Collegian Staff
September 7, 2005 (Fall 2005 semester's "Back to School Issue")
BOSTON -- Several University of Massachusetts students will return to classes today knowing one of their friends will not be joining them.
Franklyn Nwachukwu, 20, a nursing major at UMass, was shot to death July 15 during a robbery in Boston.
"He was very quiet, out going and hardworking," said Franklyn's father, Obi Nwachukwu.
Nwachukwu was just accepted into the nursing program here at UMass. His parents say he always wanted to become a nurse. Those dreams were cut short at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 15 when a robber fired a single shot into his abdomen.
Boston police and Nwachukwu's family said the shooting happened as he left a family friend's house on 22 Lewiston St. in Hyde Park. Police believe he encountered three black men who attempted to take his chain necklace when shots were fired.
Nwachukwu was transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Police have made no arrests in the case.
Nwachukwu was to begin his junior year by beginning to take summer classes at UMass on July 18, just three days after he died.
A graduate of Hyde Park High School, Nwachukwu began the UMass pre-nursing program in 2003. This summer he was working at St. Katharine Drexel Church, organizing group activities with the Nigerian community. He also worked as an intern at Central Boston Elder Services.
Nwachukwu's family said his excellent grades were proof that he would one day be successful in a nursing career.
"From day one, that's what he planned to do," said Obi Nwachukwu of his son's dream to be a nurse.
Several neighborhood teenagers in Hyde Park say their fondest memories of Nwachukwu were when they played basketball together. One of those teens said Franklyn "always had a smile on his face."
"He was a very, very nice boy," said Franklyn's mother, Anthonia Nwachukwu as she choked back tears. "He died for nothing."
Most UMass students were on summer break at the time of Nwachukwu's death. However, many of his friends from his residence at Washington Hall in Southwest still gave an outpouring of support on Nwachukwu's "thefacebook.com" profile.
"There isn't a day that goes by without thinkin about all the memories you, me and the fam had. You were one of my closest friends. You always held me down," said one message. A long list of messages to Franklyn is still posted on his thefacebook.com "wall" since he died.
The staff at the UMass school of nursing had kind words for Nwachukwu as well.
"He always made sure he said 'hi' to me before he left the floor," said Liz Theroux, the undergraduate secretary at the School of Nursing. "He used to say 'I always make his day with my smile.'"
"He was willing to make the sacrifices necessary in order to further his education. He was a cooperative, respectful and public-spirited young man," said Christina Scharbaai, UMass School of Nursing minority advisor.
Nwachukwu?s family says officials from UMass Amherst sent flowers, cards and their condolences.
But little can be done to erase the pain for this devastated family.
"He was the smartest person I know," said Franklyn's sister, Lisa Nwachukwu, 16. "There's nobody else like him."
Nwachukwu's family planned to bury his body in their native Nigeria.
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Copyright Daniel O�Brien and the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. This article may not be redistributed without written permission under United States law.