A delivery driver lost his life to gunfire while on duty in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, police reported. The 53-year-old was navigating the 5700 block of South Sangamon Street at approximately 6:33 p.m. when the sound of gunfire erupted, causing him grievous harm and ultimately leading to a collision with a parked vehicle. Despite being rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, the driver succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, authorities say as reported by Chicago Sun-Times.
According to a Chicago Sun-Times report, the authorities are still groping for a suspect or motive behind the attack and a pressing question remains whether the victim, whose identity has yet to be disclosed, was the actual intended target of the shooting or tragically caught in the crossfire. The grim incident adds to a string of recent armed robberies targeting delivery and ride-share drivers in Chicago, with three such occurrences reported last week in the Near West Side area, the victim's tragic fate has left the driver community anxious and fearing for their safety.
Voicing the concern of many, Bonita Bowman, a veteran DoorDash delivery driver, highlighted the occupational hazards faced by drivers in the city, especially during the shadow-laden evening hours. "The crime is really, really bad here," Bowman said. "You really have to watch yourself...they give you no, like, signs or anything to say who you are." Bowman's statement, obtained by ABC7 Chicago, underscores the daily risk these workers encounter as they deliver food to customers in potentially dangerous neighborhoods.
While the motive behind the shooting remains murky, police have confirmed that the incident was not an attempted robbery, a revelation that does little to assuage the growing apprehension among drivers; Bowman has called on food delivery companies to take steps to safeguard their workers, suggesting that "When it's nighttime I feel like DoorDash should have the customer come out to get their order," especially in light of recent events - this statement, Bowman told ABC7 Chicago, comes from a place of concern for those who, like her, navigate the city's treacherous streets in service of others. As investigators from Area One detective squad press on with their inquiry, the specter of violence hovers, leaving a community on edge and a family in mourning, with no arrests made as of yet.
