Milton Pillacela Ayora, a 31-year-old rideshare driver from Chicago, was fatally shot on the night of February 20, 2023, while driving for Lyft. The incident occurred in the Little Italy area of Chicago's Near West Side, specifically at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Blue Island Avenue, near St. Ignatius College Prep.
Ayora was driving with a 34-year-old passenger when their vehicle was stopped at a red light.
At this moment, a silver SUV pulled up alongside them, and four men inside the SUV opened fire on Ayora's vehicle. The rear window of Ayora's car, an Acura, was riddled with bullet holes. Ayora was shot multiple times in the torso and was transported to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, where he was pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m..
The passenger, who was shot in the legs, was also taken to Stroger Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Ayora's family and authorities believe that the passenger may have been the intended target of the shooting, as the passenger has a history with the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
At the time of the shooting, Ayora was on the phone with his brother, who heard the gunshots over the phone. Ayora had moved to the United States from Cuenca, Ecuador, 15 years prior and was known to his loved ones as a hard worker who was saving money to buy a house. He worked as a bus boy at a restaurant during the day and drove for Lyft at night.
The family of Milton Pillacela Ayora has been left devastated by his death and is demanding justice. A vigil was held at the scene of the crime, where friends, family, and loved ones gathered to remember Ayora and call for justice. Lyft released a statement expressing their condolences and offering support to Ayora's family and the passenger involved in the incident.
As of the current date, no one is in custody in connection with the shooting. Area Three detectives are still investigating the motive behind the shooting, and the Chicago Police Department has not released a description of the suspects.
