On October 18, 2017, 48-year-old Seretse Robinson-Perry, an African American woman from Chicago Heights, was fatally shot in Calumet City, Illinois. The incident occurred in the 500 block of State Street at approximately 2:48 p.m. Robinson-Perry was found with gunshot wounds and was transported to Franciscan Health in Hammond, Indiana, where she was pronounced dead at 3:31 p.m. Her 19-year-old son, Leon Perry, who was also shot, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and died later that evening at 6:33 p.m. Both deaths were ruled homicides.
The investigation into the deaths of Seretse Robinson-Perry and her son revealed that they were not the intended targets of the shooting. Community activist Andrew Holmes suggested that the shooting might have been a case of mistaken identity. The shooters fired from a dark-colored Infinity FX-type vehicle, which fled the scene heading west on State Street. The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force was involved in the investigation, and a $3,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and community activists, no arrests were made immediately following the incident. The case remained under investigation, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward. The tragic deaths of Seretse Robinson-Perry and her son highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in the area and the devastating impact it has on families and communities.
