Ashley Griggs, a 40-year-old Black woman from Chicago, was a devoted mother of two who took immense pride in her children’s lives. Her son is Carnell Tate, a standout football player for Ohio State University, and her social media was filled with his accomplishments. According to her family, she was a key to her son’s success and was remembered for her willingness to help others, her ready smile, and her words of encouragement.
A graduate of Marshall Metro High School, she grew up on the city's Westside and worked as a loyal employee at IBEW Local 134 Union, a job that allowed her to be more active in her son’s football activities.
In the early morning of July 16, 2023, Ms. Griggs was with a group of people in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. They had gathered in the 4000 block of West Washington Boulevard after attending a Marshall High School reunion. At around 2 a.m., a car drove past and its occupants opened fire on the crowd. Ms. Griggs was struck multiple times and was rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The mass shooting also wounded four other people. A 38-year-old woman was shot in the buttocks, a 39-year-old man was hit in the arm, a 38-year-old man was struck in the thigh, and a 42-year-old man was shot in the leg and foot. All four were transported to local hospitals and were listed in fair condition.
Chicago Police detectives investigated the shooting, and in August 2023, they arrested two suspects. Manuel Bahamon, 22, and Ismael Lozada, 23, were each charged with one count of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors stated that the men had driven by the gathering earlier in the night and saw people shooting dice before returning to open fire. They alleged that during the attack, Mr. Bahamon and Mr. Lozada fired from the passenger windows of the car and that Mr. Bahamon accidentally shot Mr. Lozada in the arm.
The following month, a third suspect was taken into custody. In September 2023, 31-year-old Alex Lopez was arrested and also charged with first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting. The charges against all three men remain pending litigation, and there has not been a trial, verdict, or plea agreement as of September 2023.
