Family says they consider there could be a connection between the Sunday slaying of 18-year-old Treja Kelly, who was pregnant, and her testimony as a witness in a homicide case simply weeks earlier.
“I feel in my heart of hearts that that might be the case,” Kelly’s grandmother, Judy Fields, informed the Chicago Sun-Times. “But we don’t know for sure.”
Kelly was strolling to her house Sunday night within the Back of the Yards when a person emerged from an alley and shot her a number of occasions, based on Chicago police and the Cook County medical expert’s workplace.
She was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, the place she was pronounced lifeless, authorities stated. Police stated no arrests have been made.
Kelly had simply completed her shift on the Fairplay on 47th Place and determined to take the bus house, Fields stated. She was three months pregnant, Fields stated.
Fields stated her household grew to become involved about her security after she testified in June towards Deonte Davis, who was charged within the 2016 slaying of Kelly’s cousin, Christopher Fields, 17.
“We were doing what we could to transport her every place she went,” Fields stated. “Normally [Kelly] would take an Uber home from work, but I don’t know why she didn’t.”
Kelly testified in June towards Davis, based on Fields and the Chicago Tribune. Later that month, Davis was convicted of first-degree homicide, based on county information.
Kelly had witnessed her cousin’s slaying as she went to fulfill him at a bus cease, Fields stated.
Christopher Fields and a 19-year-old man have been standing on the sidewalk June 1, 2016 within the 5200 block of South Sangamon Street when Davis, who was driving a silver automotive, stopped alongside them and opened fireplace, police stated on the time.
Fields was shot within the again and was taken to Stroger Hospital, the place he died that evening, authorities stated. The older teen was shot within the left wrist and was taken to the identical hospital in good situation. About 5 minutes earlier than the capturing, Davis had unsuccessfully tried to rob a 53-year-old man at gunpoint within the 5100 block of South Halsted Street, police stated.
Judy Fields stated that Kelly was one among two witnesses to the capturing and selected to testify as a result of she was near her cousin.
“She needed to do that for Chris,” Fields stated.
Kelly graduated from UIC College Prep in June and had deliberate to check on the University of Illinois at Chicago, Fields stated. Fields stated she was near Kelly, who had spent her life dwelling throughout the road from her.
Fields stated she has lived within the Back of the Yards for 35 years and remembers when it was peaceable and quiet.
“The neighborhood has changed so much,” Fields stated. “I raised my kids here. Now, so much happened over here. All we can do is pray for peace.”