Robert Sandifer

Robert Sandifer (March 12, 1983 – September 1, 1994), also known as Yummy, was an American boy from Chicago, Illinois who was a member of the Chicago street gang the Black Disciples (BD). His murder at age 11 by fellow gang members in Chicago garnered national attention because of his age, resulting in his appearing on the cover of Time magazine in September 1994. His nickname originated from his love for cookies. Sandifer had committed murder, theft, and armed robbery, but he was murdered by his own fellow gang members who feared he could become an informant 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.