A mother of three children was killed Friday night on the city’s Southwest Side when a bullet pierced through the trunk of a car she was riding in and struck her in the back.
The woman was identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office as 30-year-old Shari Graham. She was in the neighborhood visiting the father of her children when she called for a ride to get some food before returning home.
“Shari was so sweet and humble and forgiving and caring,” said Shawnte Savage, Graham’s best friend. ‘She was strong. She was God's angel. She was one of his angels.”
At approximately 9:45 p.m., Graham was sitting inside the vehicle in the 3800 block of South Princeton Avenue near U.S. Cellular Field when shots were fired, according to the Chicago Police Department. A bullet went through the trunk of the Dodge Charger and hit Graham in the back.
“It's a shame when you get in a car or a cab in the city that you're not even safe in a cab,” community activist Andrew Holmes said.
It was not clear whether Graham had hailed a driver using a ride-sharing app or livery service.
Graham was a mother of a 14-month-old boy, a 3-year-old boy, and a 6-year-old girl, according to Holmes. She had moved back to Chicago from Texas in December.
“When they grow up and see other kids having functions at school, with their mothers, that's when it is really gonna hurt,” Holmes said.
Police Saturday interviewed the driver of the car Graham was riding in.
Holmes is offering a $2,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone who may have information about the killing is encouraged to contact 1 (800) 883-5587.
