On October 15, 2017, 26-year-old Simone McKay, an African American woman, was discovered unresponsive on the front porch of her residence in the 9600 block of South Forest Avenue in Chicago's Rosemoor neighborhood. She had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Simone was a dedicated student at Chicago State University, nearing the completion of her biology degree with aspirations of attending medical school.
She was also a mother to two young children, aged 5 and 2. Her aunt, Sheila McKay, described the profound impact of her niece's death, stating, "It was like someone had kicked me in the stomach or just shot an arrow through my heart."
Neighbors reported hearing what sounded like firecrackers or thunder on the night of the incident, only to later realize they had heard gunshots. One neighbor noted that Simone appeared to be attempting to enter her home during a thunderstorm when she was shot, suggesting the act was deliberate. Another neighbor mentioned hearing an argument prior to the gunfire.
At the time of the reports, no suspects had been identified, and the investigation was ongoing. The Chicago Police Department was treating the case as a homicide and urged anyone with information to come forward.
In the aftermath of her death, friends, family, and community members held a vigil to honor Simone's memory, reflecting on her aspirations and the tragic loss of a promising life.
