Sasha W. Moore, a 20-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on January 15, 2020, in Chicago, IL. The incident occurred in the Gresham neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Sasha was sitting in the driver's seat of her Chevrolet Malibu around 12:35 a.m. when a confrontation erupted between her male passenger and an individual standing outside the car. The altercation quickly escalated, and the individual outside the vehicle fired a gun, striking Sasha in the head and torso.
Despite her attempts to drive away, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled her death a homicide, and the police initially suspected the shooting to be narcotics-related.
Further investigation revealed that the shooting was connected to a drug deal gone wrong. Sasha had arranged to sell marijuana to an 18-year-old man named Terrell Vining, whom she had contacted through Facebook. The two agreed to meet at a gas station near the intersection of 83rd and Halsted streets. Sasha brought her boyfriend along for the transaction. Upon arrival, Vining, using the alias "Chris Paul," asked to smell the marijuana. When Sasha refused, Vining pulled out a handgun and shot her in the head. Sasha's boyfriend managed to hit the gas pedal and drive away, but Vining continued firing, shattering the rear window of the car.
Terrell Vining was later identified and arrested. He was charged with first-degree murder and held without bail. During the investigation, it was discovered that Vining had been waiting at the gas station for about half an hour before the meeting. Surveillance footage and Facebook records played a crucial role in identifying him as the suspect. Vining's next court date was set for March 23, 2020. The case highlighted the dangers of unregulated drug transactions and the tragic consequences that can arise from such encounters.
