Niolis Collazo, a 23-year-old school counselor and volleyball coach, was fatally shot on May 6, 2023, in Waukegan, Illinois. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. near the intersection of 10th Street and Lewis Avenue. Collazo was driving her white Honda Civic home from North Chicago when she was struck by gunfire. At the time, she was on the phone with her sister, Mia Carani, who reported hearing a loud noise followed by Collazo's screams before the call ended abruptly.
Upon arrival, police found two vehicles with bullet holes; Collazo's Honda Civic and another vehicle driven by a male who was not injured. Collazo was taken to Vista East Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Collazo was a beloved figure in the Waukegan community, having recently started her first year at Waukegan Public Schools. She worked as an assistant boys volleyball coach at Waukegan High School, a position that allowed her to give back to the school where she once played volleyball. Additionally, she was a counselor with Youth Guidance's Working On Womanhood program at Smith Middle School, where she began working in February.
The investigation led to the arrest of two teenage suspects, aged 16 and 17, who were charged as adults with three counts of first-degree murder each. The arrests were made on June 1, 2023, following the execution of search warrants at two residences in Waukegan. During these searches, police recovered four handguns, including one with a fully automatic switch, and another fully automatic switch not attached to a gun. One of the recovered handguns was reported stolen from Florida. Both suspects were held on $5 million bond.
The community and Collazo's family have been deeply affected by her death. Her family described her as having a "beautiful soul" and someone who was dedicated to helping young people. The Waukegan Police Department and local authorities have expressed outrage over the senseless violence and are continuing to seek justice for Collazo's family.
