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A violent afternoon shooting in Chicago’s Gresham neighborhood has left a young mother dead.
The shooting happened around 1:25 p.m. Wednesday in the 7900-block of South May Street.
Gabryel “Gabby” Ayres, 26, was sitting in a white Chevy sedan with a 27-year-old man.
Suddenly, gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, hitting both occupants.
The sedan accelerated and crashed into a brown van shortly after the shots were fired.
First responders found Gabryel Ayres with multiple gunshot wounds.
She was rushed to Little Company of Mary Hospital in critical condition.
Medical staff later pronounced her dead.
The 27-year-old male passenger was shot twice and taken to Christ Hospital.
He is currently listed in good condition.
Tragically, an infant girl under one year old was in the backseat during the attack.
The baby was not physically harmed by the gunfire or the subsequent crash.
Pastor Kirk Bell, the victim’s godfather, expressed his heartbreak and anger at the scene.
He described the shooters as “animals” with no value for human life.
“There’s gangs, and there’s shooting and the killing. It’s just unbelievable,” Bell said.
Evidence markers on the ground indicated that more than 50 shots were fired during the ambush.
The windows of the Chevy sedan were shattered, and the car body was riddled with bullet holes.
The driver of the van involved in the crash declined medical treatment.
Chicago police have not yet made any arrests in connection with the homicide.
Recent History
The Gresham neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side continues to struggle with high rates of gun violence.
This specific stretch of South May Street has seen a spike in calls for service regarding shots fired over the last year.
Nearby St. Sabina Church, led by Father Michael Pfleger, has long been a hub for anti-violence activism in the community.
Just blocks away, residents have held multiple peace marches to demand more police resources and social programs.
Despite these efforts, daytime shootings in Gresham remain a persistent threat to families and young children.
Detectives are currently reviewing surveillance footage from the area to identify the suspects.
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