Michael Haynes Dead: Former CPS Basketball Star Among 5 Killed In Chicago Shootings Overnight

A former high school CPS basketball star was fatally shot Thursday evening while intervening in an altercation involving his friend.

Michael Haynes, 22, was shot around 5:10 p.m. while attempting to break up a fight over a stolen necklace on the city's Far South Side, NBC Chicago reports.

Haynes, who was shot near his home in the 11600 block of South Wentworth Avenue, formerly played basketball at Washington High School and led his team to two consecutive appearances in the city championship game, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Haynes had committed to play Division I basketball at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., according to ABC Chicago.

Four other people were fatally shot in Chicago Thursday evening into early Friday, including Baker Farhat, a man in his 30s, who was gunned down while working as a clerk at a gas station around 4:30 a.m. on the city's West Side, ABC reports.

Earlier in the evening, two men were fatally shot inside a car around 11:10 p.m. in the city's South Deering neighborhood. According to the Tribune, police say the shooting was likely gang-related.

Police have no suspects in custody in the shootings.

Gun violence in Chicago has attracted national media attention this year as the city's homicide rate has spiked 39 percent this year, as of the end of June. While commenting on the tragedy in Aurora, Colo., his week, President Barack Obama referenced the ongoing violence in Chicago, his hometown.

Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder this week announced that the Justice Department will be sending 50 federal law enforcement officers to help local police combat gang violence in Philadelphia, CBS Chicago reports. Some have questioned why Chicago has not received similar aid.

Earlier in the week, six people were wounded by gunfire over a period of 15 minutes, two of them fatally, Monday evening into early Tuesday in Chicago.

"Chicago seems like it's become a war zone," New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Cy Fields said of the recent shootings as a coalition of 70 faith leaders from throughout the city and suburbs gathered to call for a weekend of peace this week.