Woman, 21, fatally shot in West Town while sitting in car

CHICAGO (WLS) -- In the last two days there have been nearly two dozen shootings. They've occurred in every corner of the city, including neighborhoods normally spared from gun violence.

A 19-year-old man shot multiple times in the head, steps from the Division Blue Line stop, Wednesday evening is the latest shooting fatality in Chicago.

Earlier a 21-year-old woman was shot and killed while sitting in a car in Chicago's West Town neighborhood overnight in what has been a violent 24 hours throughout the city.

The victim's family identified her as Daysha Wright. They said she was not the intended target.

Police said she was sitting in the passenger seat of a car in the 2100-block of West Maypole Avenue, near the United Center, around 12:10 a.m. Wednesday when someone on the street opened fire.

Wright was shot in the back and transported to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The driver was not hurt.

Wright's cousin, Tamara Chapman, spoke to ABC7 Eyewitness News outside the hospital.

"It's real sad right now. We just need ya'll to come forward. You running. I know your conscience is on you heavy. You need to just come forward. My cousin is gone from us now. We don't even have a cousin no more," Chapman said. "It's sad because people can't even walk the street like they want to. Can't do nothing - you know what I'm saying? - without gun violence."

Wright's relatives said she was studying to be a nurse and was the mother of a 2-year-old, who has now lost both parents.

"The baby's father dead and she's dead. The baby doesn't have no parents," Chapman said.

At a vigil for the slain woman, heavy hearts and painful memories.

"I seen my cousin yesterday for the last time, and I told my cousin I love her," said Chapman.

"She was a smart girl, hard-working, and she was innocent. She was sweet. She didn't deserve any of this," said Alexis Wright, her sister.

This year could be one of the most violent years in decades, as 23 people were shot since Tuesday morning, three fatally.

"We're over 110 homicides this year. It's an epidemic. There's something that needs to be addressed," said Deandre Hawthorne, community activist.

For those living in the neighborhoods where the shootings are happening, fear has become a way of life. On the 6300-block of South Troy where a 31-year-old man was killed Tuesday night, few were willing to speak out.

"I just mind my own business. In and out. Go to work come home. That's about it. No hanging out, none of that," said Darren Span, a resident.

But what is going on? Some blame not just the gang wars, but also breakdown between police and the community. Speaking to him in front of a memorial wall dedicated to those lives lost to gun violence, St. Sabina's Father Michael Pfleger says people in his neighborhood, Auburn-Gresham, have lost hope.

"That's absolutely outrageous. We're in March. I know it's a nice day but it's March. What's it going to be? All people in this neighborhood keep telling me is, what's April, what's May, what's June, what's July going to be like? People are scared out of their minds," Pfleger said.

"...the Superintendent has ordered increased deployments in strategic areas that saw higher levels of gang violence in recent days, and we will continue to take action in order to reach the level of safety all residents of Chicago deserve," said Anthony Gugliemi, Chicago Police Department.