Shari Graham, a 30-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on February 26, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. She was a mother of three young children, including a 14-month-old boy, a 3-year-old boy, and a 6-year-old girl. On the night of her death, Shari was sitting in a cab in the Wentworth Gardens neighborhood on the city's South Side when shots were fired. A bullet pierced through the trunk of the car and struck her in the back.
The driver of the cab drove her to the 4700 block of South State Street, where paramedics were called. She was then taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, where she was pronounced dead.
The investigation revealed that Shari was not the intended target of the shooting. The gunfire was believed to be stray bullets meant for another vehicle, possibly linked to gang rivalries. Two individuals were charged in connection with her death: Michael Whitehead, a 16-year-old member of the Gangster Disciples gang, and Natrell Jackson, an 18-year-old man. Both were charged with first-degree murder. Surveillance footage captured the two suspects firing in the direction of the car believed to be carrying three people. After firing a combined 12 shots, they fled the scene.
Shari Graham had recently moved back to Chicago from Texas in December 2015, seeking a fresh start and employment as a nurse. Her death marked the 101st homicide in Chicago for the year 2016, highlighting the city's ongoing struggle with gun violence. Community activist Andrew Holmes offered a reward for information leading to an arrest, emphasizing the impact of Shari's death on her children and the community.
