Division 11.

Tier CJ.

Bed 303.

Assignment 2.

From the Antioch Community High School football stadium to Cook County Jail, ACHS alumnus Cameron White now faces the title of alleged murderer and the label of having committed such actions in cold blood.

In high school, the 2009 graduate was quiet; well-known, but quiet. Not only did White view himself in this way, but those around him and close to him did as well. However, what White’s introverted personality did not reveal about him was his passion: his passion for the game of football.

White’s interest in football began when he was six or seven years old, and continued until he became the most decorated football player in Antioch’s history.

“He’s one of the best football players ever,” football coach and social studies teacher Brian Glashagel said, who was White’s coach for his junior and senior seasons.

Along with his fame for football, White was also the 2008 homecoming king.

“It was exciting,” White said. “Just to feel like I was the most popular.”

Football was important to White, though for more than surface-level reasons. He maintained his status as a normal kid because of what football provided for him, beyond just a hobby.

“It kept me out of trouble,” White said. “It kept me away from certain people I wasn’t supposed to be around.”

The few years after high school were when No. 5’s life began to take a turn.

Attending Eastern Illinois University for football, White set high goals for himself. Being the star in high school, the running back hoped the same fate would meet him in college.

“It was not a good transition [from high school to college],” White said. “The thing I did best was play football, [but] I didn’t get the credentials to play freshman year. It was downing me to not be able to play. It was weird to me.”

Feeling as though he didn’t have the opportunity to make a significant impact at Eastern Illinois, White left the school altogether, but not before getting dismissed from the football team after getting in a fight and failing drug tests. Today, White remains regretful about giving up his college football career.

“I could’ve done better about going forth with it,” White said. “I came back home, [and] got in trouble.”

White planned on transferring colleges, but football coaches did not view him as eligible because of his poor grades. In the midst of this painful reality, White found himself involved in crime.

“[My life took a turn] when I caught my first case,” White said.

It was a burglary.

To many, even a burglary seems unfathomable, but is insignificant in comparison to the events of the night of White’s 25th birthday.

“It was a fight in the club,” White said. “I was in a party state of mind–like, drunk.”

After an alleged altercation with security staff in the club, White, and apparently the three other culprits being investigated for this case, were not thinking about others.

“I didn’t think about [my own family or life],” White said.

At about 2 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2016, two victims were shot–one in the leg, one in the head–from a vehicle in Chicago’s South Loop, according to CBS Chicago.

The suspect now charged with two accounts of murder/intent to kill/injure is Antioch’s very own No. 5.

According to Cook County’s Department of Corrections, White’s last court date was Dec. 1, 2016, in which White was planning to plead not guilty. White claims to be in the discovery stage of his trial, in which evidence is still being sorted through and obtained.

“I’m sitting [in jail] until they have enough evidence against me,” White said.

While there is alleged video surveillance, White believes to have not shot or killed anyone. Even so, he feels regretful about the injuries of the two victims; he does not know who they are, or what happened to them. Thus, to White, nothing was committed in cold blood.

With his fate cloudy and undefined, White remains positive about his future and maintains relationships with his family. Among those who visit him in jail every two weeks are his mother, stepfather, sister, and, most importantly, the mother of his child and his 16-month-old daughter Arya. What he misses the most about his life before jail is, above all else, his child.

“[She’s] my responsibility,” White said. “I’m just a person behind bars trying to be a father.”

The extent to which White thinks of his family is exponentially more than he thinks about his successes in high school. He tries not to let his previous reputation stress him out during such a difficult and telling point in his life.

“When I was living the football life, I didn’t know how big I was,” White said. “At the time, I was happy. Now, I don’t really think about it. I try to keep that behind me, in the past.”

Even though he attempts to keep his past in the past, he is aware that his contemporary actions affect who he is perceived as in his home community and his once cherished reputation. Despite his criminal record and recent accusations, White still feels he should be honored at Antioch Community High School.

“Yes, I think my reputation was tarnished,” White said. “It doesn’t really matter–I have other things to look forward to when I get back out. That chapter of my life is over.”

With the hopes of release on his mind, White thinks about returning to college to study business or management and wants to be there for his daughter.

“It’ll take a lot of work,” White said. “In eight to ten months, I should beat a case.”