City garbage workers made a grim discovery Tuesday afternoon on Chicago’s Far South Side.
Workers with the Department of Streets and Sanitation were driving their regular route around 12:15 p.m.
They spotted a body lying face down on the side of the road in the 600 block of East 134th Street.
The location is a secluded stretch of dirt road near the Calumet River and the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood.
Police officers arrived quickly and confirmed the victim was a young woman.
She had been shot multiple times.
Investigators found nine shell casings scattered on the ground around her body.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victim as 22-year-old Yenny Perez.
Her death has officially been ruled a homicide.
Neighbors told WGN reporters they heard the sound of gunshots late Monday night.
At this time, police have not confirmed if those shots are directly linked to the death of Perez.
Detectives are still working to determine exactly when the shooting took place.
No suspects are currently in custody.
Recent History in Altgeld Gardens
The Altgeld Gardens area has seen a troubling rise in violent incidents over the last year.
This specific stretch of East 134th Street is known to locals for being isolated and poorly lit.
In recent months, residents have called for increased patrols near the river due to illegal dumping and safety concerns.
Last summer, a similar discovery was made just a few miles away involving a victim left in a remote area.
Community leaders continue to push for more resources to address the cycle of violence in the Far South Side neighborhoods.
Police are asking anyone with information about the death of Yenny Perez to come forward.
