A woman is set to appear in court for the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man near Lincoln Park, ABC7 Chicago reported. Josalyn Fowler, 25, from Thornton, faces murder and attempted robbery charges in relation to the incident that occurred outside Kevin Patel's home last week.
Fowler's arrest, facilitated by the collective action of the Lincoln Park community, who provided key information and camera footage, is believed by police to have directly emerged from neighbors banding together. The communal effort was underscored by Alderman Timothy Knudsen of the 43rd Ward, who, in a canvassing effort stated, "People are also motivated. They are meeting their neighbors in a different way. They want to create a safer community and let each other know , 'Hey, we have each other's back,'" as reported by ABC7 Chicago.
The deadly shooting took place on the 800 block of West Lill Avenue, just a stone's throw from Patel's apartment. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cook County medical examiner’s office has ruled Patel's death, from a gunshot wound to the chest, as a homicide. Shortly after the incident, a 24-year-old woman applied pressure to Patel's wound and later expressed concern for the well-being of the neighborhood, "It’ll be hard to feel safe in our neighborhood again until these people are found and justice is found for this family. It’s a really horrible situation." The police have yet to disclose if the second person of interest, who was taken in for questioning, has been released.
Josalyn Fowler, who was "identified as the offender who participated in the fatal shooting of Patel," was previously convicted of an unrelated offense, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Patel's family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign in his memory, describing him as a beacon of intelligence, kindness, and care. To honor his legacy, his family wrote, "He always looked for the best in people and had a positive influence on his friends, family, colleagues and strangers he encountered throughout his life." They have raised over $11,700 aimed at combating gun violence.
Alderman Timothy Knudsen lauded the local community and law enforcement, stating, "I would like to extend a deep thank-you to our 43rd Ward community who provided crucial camera footage as well as all the 19th District officers and detectives for their around-the-clock work leading to this arrest and charge," in a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. The community remains on edge, yet hopeful, as the court proceedings against Fowler are about to unfold.
