“She Was Just Sitting There”: Akaysha Killed in Broad Daylight While Sitting in Parked Car on South Ridgeway
CHICAGO, IL — A moment of stillness turned fatal in broad daylight Tuesday afternoon, when 22-year-old Akaysha was gunned down while sitting in a parked car on South Ridgeway. By 2:30 p.m., she lay bleeding in the front seat, having been shot in the head and chest in what appears to be a horrifying case of mistaken identity or reckless, senseless violence.
She wasn’t arguing with anyone. She wasn’t fleeing from a crime. She wasn’t causing trouble. She was simply sitting in a car—doing nothing more than being present—when her life was abruptly and brutally cut short.
Witnesses told police that the car, which had tinted windows, was parked quietly along the block. That detail—tinted windows—may have been all it took for Akaysha to be misidentified as someone else, according to some in the neighborhood. Around 2:30 p.m., three unknown individuals approached the vehicle. One of them pulled out a weapon and opened fire.
She never had a chance.
Tragic and Sudden: The Final Moments
Details released by law enforcement and gathered from community witnesses paint a harrowing picture. There was no time for her to react. No warning. No exchange. The gunmen walked up, fired their shots, and fled.
Neighbors described hearing the rapid bursts of gunfire, followed by a chilling silence. When they emerged from their homes, they found the car’s front window shattered and Akaysha slumped inside, motionless. First responders arrived quickly, but it was already too late. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Akaysha was described by friends as “quiet, loyal, and full of dreams.” She had recently been exploring beauty school options and was looking forward to getting her license to become a professional esthetician. Her family says she loved music, doing hair, and hanging out with her younger siblings. “She was never in trouble. That wasn’t her life,” said her cousin. “She was just in the wrong place, in a city where that can get you killed.”
A Community in Mourning and Fear
The shooting occurred in the Lawndale neighborhood, an area no stranger to gun violence but shaken nonetheless by the randomness and coldness of Akaysha’s death.
“This could have been anybody’s daughter, sister, friend,” said a neighbor who did not wish to be identified. “She was doing absolutely nothing wrong. Now her family is burying her.”
The violence has once again reignited conversations about how unchecked gun crime and a lack of community investment continue to devastate families—particularly in Black and brown neighborhoods across Chicago. Many are calling for more than just increased patrols—they want lasting solutions, trauma support, and opportunities for youth to choose different paths.
No Arrests Yet—Police Seek Help
As of now, no arrests have been made. The three suspects have yet to be identified, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward. Investigators are reviewing security camera footage from nearby homes and businesses and canvassing the area for witnesses.
“We believe someone in the community knows something,” said a spokesperson from the Chicago Police Department. “What happened to this young woman was senseless and cowardly. We will not stop until we find the person or persons responsible.”
A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
Family Left with Questions and Grief
Akaysha’s mother, who asked to remain unnamed for safety reasons, is heartbroken and angry. “They took my baby girl from me. I’ll never get to see her graduate, get married, live her dreams. She was innocent. She didn’t deserve this.”
A memorial of candles, flowers, and handwritten notes now lines the sidewalk where the shooting occurred—a grim reminder of a life stolen too soon.
Her friends and relatives gathered Wednesday night for a vigil, releasing white balloons into the sky, their cries of grief cutting through the cold evening air. They chanted her name and called for justice, not just for Akaysha, but for every life lost under similar circumstances.
Justice, Still Pending
For now, the community waits—with candles in hand, tears in their eyes, and questions in their hearts. Why her? Why this way? And when will it stop?
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip through the CPD tip line.
To Akaysha’s family and friends—our deepest condolences. Her life mattered. Her story deserves to be told. And her name, remembered.