Tanisha Weeks, a 41-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on January 16, 2025, in a fatal shooting outside her home in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. The incident occurred in the early morning hours as she was leaving her residence with her 7-year-old daughter. According to police reports, Weeks was confronted by her ex-boyfriend, 35-year-old Timothy Gibbs, who then opened fire, striking her twice.
In a desperate attempt to protect her child, Weeks shielded her daughter before succumbing to her injuries. Gibbs then turned the gun on himself, dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Weeks had previously obtained an emergency order of protection against Gibbs due to threats he had made against her life. The order, granted on November 27, 2024, was later replaced with a plenary order of protection on December 18, which was set to remain in effect for two years. The order prohibited Gibbs from coming within 100 feet of Weeks, her residence, and the school where she worked as a teacher. Additionally, he was required to surrender any firearms and firearm-related licenses to law enforcement. Despite these legal measures, Gibbs was able to approach Weeks on the morning of January 16, leading to the tragic outcome.
Court records indicate that Weeks and Gibbs had been in a relationship from March 2019 until November 22, 2024. Weeks had accused Gibbs of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse during their time together. In one particularly harrowing incident, just days after their relationship ended, Gibbs allegedly held Weeks at gunpoint, strangled her, and fired a shot near her while making threats against her life. He was later found to have failed to register as a violent offender for a 2010 attempted murder conviction, but was released on probation pending trial. The case was ultimately dropped on December 2, 2024.
Weeks’ death has left the community in shock, with many expressing concerns over domestic violence and the effectiveness of protective orders in preventing such tragedies. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, though no further arrests have been made, as the primary suspect, Gibbs, died at the scene. Weeks, a devoted mother of two and a respected educator, is remembered for her dedication to her family and students. Her passing has sparked discussions on the need for stronger enforcement of protective measures for victims of domestic violence.
