Nearly five years after a Fourth of July shooting that killed 7-year-old Natalia Wallace on a West Side block, a Cook County judge on Wednesday found Terrell Boyd not guilty of every charge tied to the attack. Boyd had faced counts that included first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the 2020 shooting, which unfolded during a family holiday party in the Austin neighborhood and has already produced a mix of convictions and acquittals.
How the attack unfolded
Prosecutors say surveillance video captured a white car pulling up to the 100 block of North Latrobe Avenue as three armed men jumped out and opened fire, spraying more than 20 rounds toward a family gathering. One bullet hit Natalia in the forehead, and she was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to reporting by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Judge's ruling and courtroom updates
According to ABC7 Chicago, the judge on Wednesday cleared Boyd on all counts, including murder and aggravated battery. ABC7 reports that another defendant, Davion Mitchell, had already been acquitted in an earlier proceeding, while Kevin Boyd was previously found guilty and is scheduled to return to court on Thursday. A fourth defendant in the case remains held without bail, according to court records cited in that coverage.
Legal fallout and next steps
Reporting and court records indicate the defendants have moved through separate bench trials and, in some instances, jury proceedings, which have led to sharply different outcomes. CBS Chicago reviewed prior rulings and filings that referenced surveillance footage, cellphone records, and DNA testing as part of the evidence presented. Any next moves by prosecutors, including potential appeals, motions, or other filings, will show up in forthcoming court dockets.
Community reaction
Natalia’s killing has remained a touchstone in coverage of Chicago’s gun violence, and family members have repeatedly urged witnesses to cooperate as the cases worked through the courts. Her father and other relatives spoke publicly about their grief in earlier coverage documented by the Chicago Sun-Times, while advocates have said the split verdicts highlight how difficult it is to prosecute chaotic, retaliatory street shootings. For many residents in Austin, the latest ruling revives painful questions about retaliation, neighborhood safety, and what justice looks like in long, complicated cases.
With Terrell Boyd now cleared, one defendant remains jailed without bond, and Kevin Boyd still faces the earlier guilty finding and follow-up court dates, ABC7 Chicago reports. Future court filings and docket entries will determine whether prosecutors take additional legal steps, and Natalia Wallace’s death remains a painful marker in the city’s long struggle with gun violence.
