James McKnight, a 44-year-old man, was fatally shot in the early hours of March 16, 2025, in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. Officers responded to a call at approximately 2:30 a.m. and discovered McKnight suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen inside an apartment building located in the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue. Emergency responders administered CPR at the scene before transporting him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:24 a.m.
Authorities initially had no suspects in custody, but further investigation led to the arrest of 33-year-old Breanna Gilliams, who resided on the same block where the shooting occurred. She has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with McKnight’s death. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under scrutiny, with police working to determine the exact sequence of events. A woman at the scene, who claimed to be McKnight’s wife, told officers that a masked man entered their apartment and began shooting. However, investigators later found a bullet and a single shell casing inside the apartment, raising questions about the nature of the incident.
Additionally, a 911 call made just minutes before McKnight was found reported a heated argument between a man and a woman in a nearby apartment. The call-taker allegedly heard a gunshot before the call abruptly disconnected. Whether this incident is directly related to McKnight’s murder remains uncertain, but authorities are examining all available evidence to piece together the events leading up to his death. Area 3 detectives continue to investigate the case, seeking further details that may clarify the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
