Savanah Quintero was 14 when she was shot and killed on June 2, 2021, while walking with her boyfriend on the sidewalk in the 1700 block of West 48th Street in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. The shooting occurred around 6:09 p.m. after three people approached the pair and asked if they were affiliated with a gang. Savanah denied any gang involvement but was struck in the head when one of the assailants opened fire. She was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition and died shortly after.

Investigators described the attack as gang-related even though Savanah and her boyfriend were not gang members. The inquiry noted a relative of Savanah’s had a gang association that may have been a factor. The suspects fled the scene; a 17-year-old, Edgar Martinez, was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder as the gunman, and 26-year-old Michael Aguirre was arrested on charges related to providing the firearm. Community leaders in the area pointed to rising gang conflicts and called for interventions to protect youth.

If anyone knew Savanah or has information about the confrontation that evening, please share what was seen or heard.