Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade's cousin shot, killed pushing stroller on South Side

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Nykea Aldridge, mother of four and cousin of Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade, was shot and killed by crossfire Friday afternoon in Chicago's Parkway Gardens neighborhood.

Wade is currently not in town but recently joined an ESPN round-table talking about the violence plaguing the city of Chicago. He tweeted about his cousin's death Friday night.

Police said Aldridge had just left the Dulles School of Excellence around 3:30 p.m. in the 6300-block of South Calumet when two men approached another man in the vicinity and opened fire. Deputy Chief James Jones said the altercation between the men had nothing to do with her.

Aldridge, 32, was struck in the head and arm by crossfire. She was taken to Stroger Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Jones said two people are being questioned by the police about the shooting, and several other people in the vicinity were interviewed. Police are currently working to hash out specifics and verify stories, he said.

Family members, including Wade's mother, Pastor Jolinda Wade, gathered at Stroger and spoke about their loss. Pastor Wade held her sobbing sister, Aldridge's mother, close the entire time.

"Just sat up on a panel yesterday, The Undefeated, talking about the violence that's going on within our city of Chicago, never knowing that the next day we would be the ones that would be actually living and experiencing it," Pastor Wade said.

But in the wake of her personal loss, she remained determined.

"We're still going to try and help these people to transform their minds and give them a different direction, so this thing won't keep happening," she said. "We're still going to help empower people like the one who senselessly shot my niece in the head."

Investigators said Aldridge was an innocent bystander and not the intended target.

Wade was somber during his appearance at the EPSN Town Hall meeting, talking about Chicago violence.

"It's deep-rooted. This is something that didn't start today, this is something that isn't going to end tomorrow, this is something... hopefully, eventually we can stop it," he said.

The Chicago Bulls released a statement on the shooting, saying, "The entire Chicago Bulls organization is deeply saddened by the news of Dwyane Wade's cousin, Nykea Aldridge. We send our deepest condolences to the entire Wade family during this difficult time."

The police investigation is ongoing.