A routine garbage run on Chicago’s Far South Side turned into a homicide investigation Tuesday afternoon when city sanitation workers found a woman shot to death along a dirt road, authorities said.
The woman, believed to be in her 20s or 30s, was discovered on the side of the road in the 600 block of East 134th Place. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene as crews moved in to secure the stretch of roadway.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the sanitation workers spotted the woman at about 12:15 p.m. while on their regular route. A police report cited by the paper said she was found lying on the side of the dirt road with multiple gunshot wounds and multiple shell casings nearby. The report also noted that witnesses had reported hearing gunfire the previous night.
CBS Chicago reported that Area Two detectives are leading the investigation. The victim’s name has not yet been released, and no arrests have been announced as of Tuesday afternoon.
Where it happened
The scene lies in a portion of the Far South Side that different outlets described as either the Altgeld Gardens or Golden Gate area. The neighborhood has seen gun violence before; a July 2025 shooting near Altgeld Gardens left four people wounded, as detailed in Four wounded near Altgeld Gardens.
Investigation and next steps
Area Two detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information to come forward. Witnesses told police they heard shots around 9 p.m. Monday evening, according to Chicago Sun-Times. Police have urged anyone with tips to contact investigators directly or call 911 in an emergency.
