On January 29, 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Chicago, Illinois, resulting in the death of 53-year-old Jing Lei. Jing Lei was a manager and chef at a Chinese restaurant in the city. Due to the restaurant being short-staffed on the evening of his death, Lei decided to take on the task of making a food delivery himself.
At approximately 6:30 PM, while driving in the 5700 block of South Sangamon Street, Lei was struck by gunfire.
He was shot multiple times in the chest and subsequently crashed his vehicle into a parked car. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Lei succumbed to his injuries and died.
The family of Jing Lei has expressed deep sorrow and a sense of loss following his death. His son, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, described the tragedy and the impact it has had on their family. He highlighted his father's hard work and dedication to supporting the family, lamenting that Lei did not get to enjoy his retirement.
The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of food delivery drivers in Chicago. Just the week prior to Lei's death, there were reports of multiple armed robberies targeting food delivery drivers in the West Loop area. In these incidents, two armed men wearing black face masks approached the drivers, displayed handguns, and stole the food deliveries before fleeing.
As of the latest updates, no one was in custody in connection with Jing Lei's murder, and the police were still investigating the case. Community activists planned to speak publicly about the shooting and announce a reward for information leading to justice for Lei.
