Maxwell Gadau: Suburban Teen Gunned Down In Chicago After Bragging About Gang Affiliation

Maxwell Gadau was a 17-year-old from suburban Chicago who worked as a swimming instructor and looked after his younger sisters, but his life was cut short after he reportedly bragged that he was affiliated with one of the city’s most notorious gangs.

Gadau and another girl were shot over the weekend while sitting inside a car in the 9200 block of North Kedvale in Skokie. The girl was seriously wounded and taken to a hospital, but Maxwell was not so lucky.

As of Monday, police said they had few leads in the murder of Maxwell Gadau, but the site MediaTakeOut reported that it was due to Gadau’s boasting about gang affiliation.

The site reported:

“A teenage fan of Lil Durk was gunned down in a suburban Chicago neighborhood Sunday night. Over the weekend, 17 year old Maxwell Gadau was fatally shot in the back in Skokie – outside of Chicago. A 17-year-old girl who was with him, was also wounded in this shooting. She is currently in a critical condition at a hospital.

“Well according to one instagram poster, Max ws allegedly gunned down for repping “GDK,” an acronym for Gangster Disciple Killer. In Chicago, “repping” a gang which you don’t belong to, can get you KILLED.”

It is unclear how much truth could be behind the rumor. MediaTakeOut is known mostly as a celebrity gossip site, carrying stories about the Real Housewives of Atlanta and Beyonce Knowles pregnancy rumors.

Maxwell’s mother, Patricia Gadau, said her son was not into any kind of trouble.

“Max was determined to make a good future for himself. He was very much determined. He had goals and he was going to do whatever he needed to do to make those goals,” she said.

Classmates added that Maxwell was well-liked among his peers.

“He was really a nice kid,” said Victoria Sorin, a Niles North junior. “He was a swimmer. He seemed pretty athletic. He was just really nice. He’ll be missed.”

Maxwell Gadau was a student at Niles North High School, where he was on the swim team. He also worked as a swimming instructor at Lifetime Fitness in Skokie. Police said they don’t believe is killing was a random act.