On January 23, 2023, Alexandra Olmo, a 43-year-old woman, and her 21-year-old transgender daughter, Jael Omar Burgos, were fatally shot in a mass shooting in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred at a second-floor unit in a courtyard building located at 2909-19 E. 78th St., near Exchange Avenue. According to police reports, two individuals, described as teens wearing ski masks, one in camouflage, kicked in the apartment door and demanded money before opening
fire on the occupants.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of Olmo and her daughter, while three other individuals were critically wounded. Among the survivors was one person who managed to run over half a mile, wounded and bloodied, to the nearest McDonald's at 79th Street and Phillips Avenue to seek help. The McDonald's was subsequently shut down and roped off with crime tape following the incident.
Police have characterized the shooting as a targeted home invasion rather than a random act of violence. CPD Deputy Chief Sean Loughran emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that they are exploring any relationships between the victims and the offenders. A $15,000 reward was offered for information leading to the identification and apprehension of the shooter(s).
In the aftermath of the shooting, a 19-year-old suspect was identified and arrested on January 26, 2023, after being identified in photo lineups as the person who forced his way into the apartment. However, prosecutors declined to charge him, and he was released from custody on January 29. The case remains an open and active investigation by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. The suspect is also facing separate charges in Cook County court for residential burglary and domestic battery.
The family of the victims has expressed frustration and confusion over the handling of the case. Omar Burgos, Jael's father, who lives in Florida, was unaware that a suspect had been arrested and released without charges. He traveled to Chicago for his daughter's funeral but was unable to obtain much information about the circumstances of the shooting or the status of the investigation.
