Relatives identify the victim as 22-year-old Isis Ogunti and urge tips as detectives review the Saturday morning attack.
CHICAGO — A Chicago family is offering a $12,000 reward for information leading to an arrest after 22-year-old Isis Ogunti died following a shooting-turned-crash on the Far South Side on Saturday morning in the 2000 block of East 103rd Street.
Police say Ogunti was driving west just before 8:30 a.m. when another vehicle pulled alongside and someone opened fire. Her SUV continued on and struck a tree. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. A 28-year-old man riding with her was hospitalized in serious condition with injuries from the crash. Area Two detectives are investigating. No arrests were announced as of Thursday, and relatives said they are posting a $12,000 reward for information that helps bring a suspect into custody.
Witness accounts and preliminary police statements describe two vehicles traveling west on 103rd Street when shots were fired from the trailing vehicle. Investigators said the shooter’s car sped away after the crash. Ogunti’s SUV, described by relatives as a dark blue Honda, came to rest against a tree near East 103rd and nearby residential blocks on the Far South Side. “She was on her way to work,” a family member said, calling the attack senseless. First responders took Ogunti to Advocate Trinity Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead. The passenger was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center. Detectives canvassed the area for surveillance video and shell casings as traffic was rerouted for several hours.
Officials have not publicly released a motive. Investigators said it remains unknown whether Ogunti or the passenger was the intended target, or whether the gunman knew the victims. The shooter’s vehicle was not immediately described in detail beyond being a separate car that approached the SUV before shots were fired. The family said they hope the $12,000 reward encourages witnesses to come forward with a license plate, video, or a name. Ogunti’s mother said she spoke with her daughter by phone around the time of the incident and later learned the call coincided with the emergency. The passenger’s injuries were described as crash-related bruises and trauma; no gunshot wounds were reported by police in early summaries.
Saturday’s attack happened days before Christmas on a corridor that local residents say is busy with morning traffic and bus routes. Far South Side communities have seen periodic drive-by shootings on major streets, and residents said they are accustomed to hearing sirens. In previous weeks, detectives in the area investigated unrelated cases along 103rd Street and nearby State Street. Community leaders said the timing, near the holidays, adds to the grief. Friends described Ogunti as a young worker who kept a regular schedule and used the route to reach her job on time.
Police said Area Two detectives are leading the case. Investigators were expected to review private and city-operated cameras along 103rd Street and to interview drivers who may have been passing through during the attack. As of Thursday, no charges had been filed and no suspect description was formally released. If detectives identify a vehicle by plate or distinctive damage, the case could move to a vehicle alert or investigative alert, followed by potential charges after a review by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. The family said the $12,000 reward will remain available for information that leads to an arrest, and they plan to coordinate with detectives to verify credible tips.
Neighbors who passed the crash site later in the day said the tree showed fresh bark damage and pieces of plastic remained on the parkway. A resident who lives near 103rd Street said she heard a “series of pops” and then a thud. “It was fast, and then it was quiet except for the sirens,” she said. Another neighbor said Ogunti’s death has weighed on the block during what is usually a festive week. “People are putting up lights. Now there’s police tape,” he said. Family members said they will remember Ogunti as loving and focused. “We just want answers,” a relative said.
As of Thursday afternoon, Ogunti’s family said the $12,000 reward offer is active while detectives continue to investigate. Police have not announced an arrest or released a detailed description of the shooter’s vehicle. The next expected update could come if investigators locate significant video or identify a suspect for questioning.
Author note: Last updated December 25, 2025.