On May 6, 2023, Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston, 24, was fatally shot near her home in the Avalon Park neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Preston was returning home from work around 1:40 a.m. when she was targeted in what authorities believe was an attempted robbery. The incident occurred in the 8100 block of South Blackstone Avenue, where a gunshot-detection system registered nine shots fired at approximately 1:45 a.m..
The shooting was part of a broader crime spree involving four teenagers: Trevell Breeland and Joseph Brooks, both 19; Jakwon Buchanan, 18; and a 16-year-old, who was charged as an adult. These individuals had committed multiple robberies and a motor vehicle theft earlier that morning. According to police, at least three of the teens got out of a stolen red Kia and approached Preston, who was still in her uniform. At least two of the teens fired their weapons, and Preston was found with gunshot wounds by a responding officer who had been alerted by her smart watch.
Preston was transported by police vehicle to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Her gun was taken during the robbery and had not been found as of the initial reports. The car involved in the crime was later found set on fire in the 7200 block of South Rhodes about 20 minutes after Preston was discovered.
The four teenagers were charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and other offenses. They were held without bail during a bond hearing, with Judge David Kelly noting that prosecutors had provided a significant amount of evidence linking the teens to the violent crime spree.
Areanah Preston was a dedicated public servant who had been with the Chicago Police Department for three years and was set to graduate with a Master of Jurisprudence from Loyola University Chicago on May 13, 2023. She had also applied to the FBI and had one final interview left before joining the FBI Academy. Preston was remembered by her colleagues, community, and city leaders as a passionate and compassionate individual who was committed to improving the lives of those in her community.
Preston's death was ruled a "line-of-duty death" by the Chicago Police Department, ensuring additional benefits for her family. Her funeral was held at Trinity United Church of Christ, where she was memorialized as a bright light and a role model for young women of color. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, among others, praised Preston's service and commitment to the community.
In the aftermath of her death, Preston's mother, Dionne Mhoon, started the "Peace for Preston" foundation to continue supporting the community her daughter served. A memorial roll call and dedication ceremony were held on May 6, 2024, to mark the one-year anniversary of her death, and a street in the Avalon Park neighborhood was named Officer Aréanah M. Preston Way in her honor.
