Penny Gearhart, a 57-year-old woman from Chicago, was tragically killed on August 3, 2016, in a drive-by shooting in the Uptown neighborhood. She was a well-known vendor for *StreetWise*, a magazine sold by the homeless and those in need to make a living. On the day of the incident, Gearhart was standing on the street near Sheridan Road when she was caught in the crossfire between rival gang members.
She was not the intended target and was simply going about her routine as a beloved community member.
The shooting also injured a 58-year-old man who was nearby at the time. This violent act shocked the community, as Gearhart had built a reputation for her friendliness and involvement with local residents. Despite the gang-related nature of the shooting, her death was part of a larger issue of gun violence affecting bystanders in Chicago. Her murder, like many others, highlighted the dangers posed by ongoing gang conflicts in the city.
