“They went to buy Halloween costumes. They had a great day. She was just coming home and trying to get in,” said the victim’s sister, Isabel de la Garza.
Melissa, who preferred to be known as Azul, was shot seven times, according to her grandmother.
“It’s a nightmare,” said her grandmother, Clara de la Garza, in Spanish. “Who’s going to fill this hole? It’s unbelievable how this city is being consumed by violence.”
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Relatives said officers were alerted by a nearby shot spotter and rushed to the scene moments after Azul’s father left the house when he himself heard gunshots.
“He saw my sister sitting in the car. He was shouting her name and she was not responding. My dad opened the door and just grabbed her,” Isabel said.
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The victim’s father, Jose de la Garza, said: “It’s hard to put into words the loss someone felt for snatching my 18-year-old warrior princess.” “Just to do everything in the best way that we’ve taught him. And for someone to come and take him for no reason, it doesn’t make any sense.”
18 years old is just one At least five people have died in Chicago this weekend.
She was one of four siblings and graduated from Solerio Academy, where she was one of the first young women to participate on the high school’s wrestling team. She was also an artist who loved to paint and was planning to take a year off to work even after she was admitted to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
“She had a lot of ambition. She’s very artistic,” Isabel said. “I will remember him as my best friend; my rock. The person I always went to. He always gave me advice.”
Police are still searching for the person or persons responsible for the death of Melissa de la Garza. Anyone who has information that could lead to an arrest should call detectives in Area One.
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