Maritza Cazares was 19 and living in Aurora, Illinois, when she was fatally shot on July 26, 2019. She was sitting on her front porch in the 400 block of East Benton Street just before 10:30 p.m. when someone opened fire. Police found her with multiple gunshot wounds; she was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Investigators determined Maritza was not the intended target and treated the incident as a targeted act rather than a random shooting. Aurora police collected forensic evidence and interviewed witnesses, but no arrests were announced immediately after the incident and, as of the latest update, the case remains unsolved. Friends and family created a makeshift memorial at the scene; she was remembered for her contagious smile and love for soccer.

Did anyone in the area on July 26, 2019 notice suspicious activity near East Benton Street or have information that could help investigators?