Melinda Anderson was 28 when she was shot in the head in the early hours of May 4, 2020, in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, in the 5600 block of West Madison Street. An unidentified driver took her to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park; she was later transferred to Stroger Hospital and died the next day. The Cook County medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.

Police charged 42-year-old Robbie York, the father of three of Melinda’s children, with manslaughter, being an armed habitual criminal, and unlawful use of a weapon. York at one point said Melinda shot herself but later said the gun discharged while he was handling it; he turned himself in and was held on $350,000 bail. The weapon has not been recovered. Melinda’s twin sister, Melissa Anderson, cited the medical examiner’s finding that the gunshot was fired at close range and said she did not believe York’s account.

Melinda, a mother of five children aged from 7 months to 12 years, worked as a security officer and was remembered by family and friends as warm and devoted. Does anyone who knew Melinda or has information about the shooting or the missing weapon want to come forward?