Jerry Thornton, a 27-year-old man from Chicago, was shot and killed while driving westbound on the Eisenhower Expressway (Interstate 290) on May 22, 2021. The shooting occurred around 12:07 a.m.; Thornton was struck multiple times and later died at Loyola University Medical Center at 7:17 a.m. A 29-year-old passenger in Thornton’s rented Nissan Altima suffered minor injuries and a 19-year-old passenger was unhurt. The ramp to Austin Boulevard was closed for hours during the scene investigation.

Authorities arrested and charged 22-year-old Quinton Dixon, Thornton’s cousin, with first-degree murder. Prosecutors say surveillance footage and license-plate readers showed a red Ford Fusion trailing Thornton’s car, Dixon’s cellphone placed him at the scene, a .40-caliber shell casing at the scene matched casings found in Dixon’s vehicle, and gunpowder residue was found in that vehicle.

Anyone who knew Thornton, his movements that night, or has information about the red Ford Fusion is asked to come forward.