Melanie Hope Yates, 23, was killed by a stray bullet on October 17, 2021, at about 9 p.m. in her home on the 2800 block of Enoch Avenue in Zion, Illinois. She was reading a Bible story to her seven-month-old daughter when a bullet struck her in the head. Melanie was taken to Vista East Hospital in Waukegan and died the following morning.

Investigators determined the fatal round was fired by a 16-year-old neighbor, identified in reports as Zechariah Myles, who had exited his home and began shooting a rifle at another person. Myles was not allegedly aiming at Melanie; the bullet entered her home and killed her. He was arrested about a month later in Waukegan and charged with six counts of first-degree murder; he pleaded not guilty during a virtual hearing and was being held in juvenile detention on $3 million bail.

Melanie was a registered nurse and a mother to two daughters, Evelyn and Lydia; her husband is named Daniel Yates. The family and community continue to grieve this loss. If anyone knew Melanie, her movements that evening, or has information about the shooting, please come forward.