James Rodger was not afraid to die.

The 21-year-old NIU senior said that to his father, almost prophetically, shortly before a semester-break reunion with college friends ended in tragedy on the Chicago city streets.

Rodger, a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, was shot and killed while riding in a car with three friends Jan. 5.

Steve Reilly, special agent of the criminal investigations division of the Illinois State Police, said officers are still looking for four suspects in a second car, one of whom shot Rodger. Police have no description of the car or the suspects.

The incident began when Rodger and his companions were leaving the Baja Beach Club in Chicago. While driving down Lake Shore Drive toward Interstate 55, their car was cut off by a car with three Oriental men and one Oriental woman, Reilly said.

“At that time, the Orientals gave Rodger’s car the finger,” he said. “A dispute occurred which continued for 2 or 3 miles to Damen Avenue.”

When the cars reached Damen Avenue, Rodger and the other passengers heard an object they thought was a rock hit the side of their car, said Rodger’s mother Mary. At that time, Rodger rolled down a car window to ask the people why they had thrown something at the car.

A shot was then fired, said Mrs. Rodger. The bullet hit Rodger in the head and killed him instantly.

Three shots were fired, Reilly said. The first hit the car and imbedded itself into the metal. The third lodged only an inch from the gas tank near the trunk of the automobile. The second killed Rodger.

Immediately following the shooting, the driver searched frantically for Holy Cross Hospital which he knew to be in the area. The car was stopped by a Chicago police officer for speeding. The driver told police that Rodger had been shot, and the officer escorted them to the hospital.

Rodger, though already dead from the impact of the bullet, was placed on life-support systems because he was an organ donor. A friend of Rodger said that his heart, kidneys and pancreas were removed from his body and donated to keep others alive.

Rodger was described by his mother as a person who had an exuberance for life and people. He was “the baby” of the family, Mrs. Rodger said, and would never fight with anyone.

“Out of all our children,” Rodger was the youngest in a family of two sons and four daughters, “we never had a cross word for Jimmy.”

Mrs. Rodger said she doubts her son or his friends were involved in the initiation or the continuation of the dispute. “Jimmy’s friends told me they thought the other people were waving or just having fun.”

Mike Linehan, president of Rodger’s fraternity and a close friend, said Rodger was never one to provoke or incite arguments. Rodger was a “character,” who liked to joke and laugh with people.

“Everyone he met was treated like a best friend. Even though he just met someone, he would treat them like he had known them for years.

“He was a very special person because he made others laugh all the time. It wasn’t like he did it (comedy) for himself. He just wanted to make people laugh.”

Rodger was described by other friends and family as an artistic person who enjoyed music, drawing and appearing in friend’s videos for communications class projects.

On the mass booklet at his funeral, an inscription read, “I’m not afraid to die, dad. I’m like you, I believe in Jesus.”

A memorial plaque will be established in Rodger’s name at the fraternity house. The plaque might be accompanied by an award, Linehan said. The award will be presented each year to the outstanding brother in the fraternity.