Vigil Held for Chicago Woman Killed in Broad Daylight Shooting

Community leaders and officials call for justice after Gabryel Ayers was shot and killed while her baby was in the back seat of her car.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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A Chicago community came together on Friday to hold a vigil for 26-year-old Gabryel Ayers, who was shot and killed in broad daylight while her baby was in the back seat of her car earlier this week. St. Sabina Parish is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, and Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering an additional $10,000 reward. Police, faith leaders, and elected officials, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, attended the vigil and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Why it matters

This tragic incident has shaken the Auburn Gresham community and highlighted the ongoing challenges of gun violence and public safety in Chicago. The vigil and rewards offered demonstrate the community's determination to find those responsible and seek justice for Gabryel Ayers and her family.

The details

Ayers was shot and killed on Wednesday afternoon while her baby was in the back seat of her car. Video footage shows at least three people ran up to Ayers' car and fired at least two dozen shots before fleeing in a red car. A 27-year-old man in the car with Ayers was also wounded, but the baby was unharmed.

  • Ayers was shot and killed on Wednesday afternoon.
  • The vigil was held on Friday afternoon.

The players

Gabryel Ayers

A 26-year-old Chicago woman who was shot and killed while her baby was in the back seat of her car.

St. Sabina Parish

A church in the Auburn Gresham community that is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in Ayers' killing.

Brandon Johnson

The Mayor of Chicago who attended the vigil and spoke about bringing justice and change to the South Side.

Willie Preston

An Illinois state senator who spoke at the vigil, calling the perpetrators "monsters".

Michael Pfleger

A faith leader who spoke at the vigil, urging anyone with information to come forward.

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What they’re saying

“This tragedy continues to tear at the thread of the soul of Chicago. There's tragedies like this that remind us of how much more work that we have to do.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (cbsnews.com)

“The people that pulled out automatic weapons on this very land that we stand on, ran up broad daylight and murdered Gabryel, are monsters to me.”

— Willie Preston, Illinois State Senator (cbsnews.com)

“When is this going to stop? When is it going to get safe again?”

— Michael Pfleger, Faith Leader (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the suspects to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for solutions to gun violence and public safety in Chicago's communities. The vigil and rewards offered demonstrate the community's determination to find those responsible and seek justice, but more work is needed to address the root causes of these issues.