Robert Sandifer

Robert Sandifer
Mugshot of Sandifer
Born(1983-03-12)March 12, 1983
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedSeptember 1, 1994(1994-09-01) (aged 11)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wounds
Other names"Yummy"
Occupation(s)Street gang member
(Black Disciples)
Criminal statusDeceased
Criminal chargeArson, armed robbery, drug possession
PenaltyProbation

Robert Sandifer (March 12, 1983[1] – September 1, 1994) (also known as Yummy) was an African-American boy from Chicago, Illinois. His murder by fellow gang members in Chicago garnered national attention because of his age,[2][3][4][5] resulting in his appearance on the cover of Time magazine in September 1994.[4] His nickname originates from his love for cookies.[6] Standing 4 ft 6 in (137 cm), Sandifer was a young member of the Chicago street gang the Black Disciples (BD).

After committing murder, theft, and armed robbery, he was murdered by his own fellow gang members who feared Sandifer could become a “snitch” and expose their criminal activities to authorities if he were arrested. Coverage of Sandifer's death and retrospectives on his short, violent life were widely published in the American media. Sandifer became a symbol of the gang problem in American inner cities, the failure of social safety nets, and the shortcomings of the juvenile justice system.

  1. ^ "The Sad Chicago Story of Yummy Sandifer". July 16, 2017.
  2. ^ Long, Elizabeth Valk (September 19, 1994). "To Our Readers". Time. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  3. ^ Gibbs, Nancy R.; Grace, Julie; Hull, Jon D. (September 19, 1994). "Murder in Miniature". Time. Archived from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Grace, Julie (September 12, 1994). "There Are No Children Here". Time. Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  5. ^ Hewitt, Bill (September 19, 1994). "Death at an Early Age". People. pp. 52–54. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Powers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).