2 women shot, 1 fatally, near 31st Street Beach, Chicago police say; family IDs woman killed

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two women were shot, one fatally, near 31st Street Beach Wednesday night, Chicago police said.

Officers responded to shots fired at a large gathering at about 10:05 p.m. in the 600-block of East 31st Street, in a parking lot across from the beach.

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A 22-year-old woman was shot three times in the chest, and taken to Insight Hospital, where she later died.

Authorities have not released her identity, but her mother spoke out Thursday.

"None of this feels real. I feel like I'm just like sleep, and I'm just waiting to wake up," Leontyne Walker said.

A 20-year-old woman was shot in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.

Officers were seen taking a person into custody, but police said they do not have anyone in custody.

Detectives were seen searching the scene for evidence and are looking over surveillance video.

Thursday morning, the mayor expressed his outrage and sadness over the summertime violence, saying he inherited a mess.

"When you see the work that we're doing, what I can emphatically say, the mess we got in we didn't create," Johnson said. "My administration didn't do this: Shut down public schools, shut down public housing, city was run into ground, jacked up finances, were left with chaos and mess."

Walker said she lost her only two sons in a car crash nearly three years ago.

She's left to feel that same pain all over again, after only daughter, Zakhyiah Cobbs, was shot and killed Wednesday night.

"I had to bury my two sons, and now I have to turn around and bury my daughter," Walker said. "How do you move on from that?"

Cobbs was Walker's last surviving child.

"It was already hard living here, having to walk past my boys' room, but now having to walk past all three of their rooms. I just, it's indescribable," Walker said.

Cobbs' family said the 22-year-old was out with her friends Wednesday night, when she was shot.

"You all took my niece. My sister has no children!" Cobbs' aunt Nedra Walker said.

Nearly three years ago, Cobbs' two teenage brothers died in a car crash in Hickory Hills, in July of 2021.

Their mother spoke of her heartache then.

"I know that it is hard when people have to bury one child, but to bury two at the same time," Walker said at the time.

Years later, she prepares to bury another.

"She was the reason why I was able to stay sane after I lost my boys," Walker said. "She definitely was my strength. Like, what's my purpose here? I've lost all three of my kids."

Area One detectives are investigating. A motive is under investigation.

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