On the evening of May 31, 2021, 38-year-old Joseph "Joe" Schelstraete, a white male from Hobart, Indiana, was working as an Uber driver in Cicero, Illinois. Around 7:30 p.m., he arrived at the intersection of 23rd Street and 55th Avenue to pick up a fare. Upon arrival, four armed individuals approached his blue Ford Focus. They demanded his money and cellphone, which he surrendered without resistance. Despite his compliance, one of the assailants shot him in the head.
The attackers then fled the scene, heading south.
Emergency responders transported Schelstraete to Loyola University Medical Center in serious condition. Despite medical efforts, he was declared brain-dead shortly after the incident. His family made the decision to keep him on life support to facilitate organ donation, honoring his generous spirit. He was pronounced dead on June 2, 2021, at 11:49 a.m.
Joe Schelstraete was a hardworking individual, balancing two jobs to provide for his three children. In addition to driving for Uber, he was employed at a local steel mill. Family members remember him for his dry sense of humor and constant smile. His aunt, Kim Bova, described him as a loving and engaged father who cherished spending time with his children.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Cicero police apprehended a juvenile male suspect approximately two blocks from the crime scene. The identities of the remaining three suspects remain unknown, and they are considered armed and dangerous. Authorities have noted that a similar carjacking incident occurred at the same location about three weeks prior, leading investigators to explore potential connections between the two cases.
The tragic death of 38-year-old Joseph Schelstraete underscores the dangers faced by rideshare drivers and has prompted discussions about driver safety and the need for increased protective measures within the industry.
