A mother was killed and a male passenger was wounded in a brazen daytime shooting on Wednesday afternoon in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. A baby was riding in the back seat of the vehicle at the time of the shooting but was unharmed.
Police said 26-year-old Gabryel Ayers and a 27-year-old man were sitting inside a white car when gunfire suddenly erupted at the 7900 block of South May Street. Both were hit by the gunfire and the car crashed into a van.
Video that later spread across social media shows at least three people running toward the victims’ car and firing their weapons. After briefly retreating, the shooters were seen getting into a red vehicle before speeding away from the area, shooting more shots as they went.
The witness who recorded the disturbing footage said they were left shaken and emotional by what they saw. The person explained they had just finished work and happened upon the scene by chance. They recalled noticing the infant in the back seat still holding a lollipop and crying amid the chaos that followed the gunfire.
“Thank God that baby is so young, they probably won’t remember this day, but that baby is going to know that their mother was killed today. That baby could have been killed,” said Father Michael Pfleger of nearby St. Sabina Church, per CBS News.
Authorities said the woman suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to OSF Little Company of Mary Hospital in critical condition. Police later confirmed she died from her injuries, but her name has not been released.
The man who was with her was struck in the buttocks and arm and after being transported to the hospital for treatment he was listed in stable condition. The child in the vehicle was unharmed.
“They all had long guns. It’s just crazy,” Father Pfleger said. “Somebody needs to be held accountable and if anybody knows who did that I think we got some good shots off the cameras on the buildings over there. I just want them caught.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, there were no suspects in custody.
