On May 17, 2017, Naisha Weems, a 27-year-old woman from Chicago, was killed in a vehicular homicide on the city's West Side, in the Austin neighborhood. The incident stemmed from an altercation between Weems and another woman, Kenya Washington. Following a heated argument, Washington used her vehicle as a weapon, intentionally running over Weems. The altercation took place on North Latrobe Avenue, where large crowds gathered and tension escalated. Weems was struck, dragged beneath the vehicle, and ultimately pronounced dead at Loyola University Medical Center.
Kenya Washington, the driver, was arrested and charged with the murder of Naisha Weems, as well as attempted murder for also injuring a 23-year-old man during the incident. Witnesses, including some who filmed the event, and nearby security cameras documented the act, leading to the arrest of Washington after a warrant was issued in June 2017. The tragic event highlighted the dangers of conflicts escalating into violence and left Weems' community devastated.
