Ericka Cox-Bailey, a 30-year-old African American woman, was shot in the neck on June 12, 2016, while walking home from a store near North McKinley Avenue and Francis Drive in Champaign, Illinois. The shooting occurred around 8 PM and she died of her injuries three days later on June 15, 2016. Police say the gunfire came from a passing vehicle involved in a gang-related altercation and that Ericka was an unintended victim.

The Champaign Police Department arrested three young men in connection with the shooting. Shamario Brown, 18, of Champaign, Illinois, was identified as the person whose bullet struck Ericka and was arrested in St. Louis, Missouri. Takario Greene, 18, of Macon, Georgia, and Oshae Cotton, 19, of Champaign, Illinois, were also arrested in Georgia. Brown and Greene were charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm; bond was set at $1 million each. Cotton’s murder charge was later dropped and he pleaded guilty to a weapons offense, receiving 30 months probation and 180 days in jail with credit for time served.

Ericka’s family expressed forgiveness toward those responsible and urged that the young men learn from their mistakes. Does anyone have information about Ericka’s last walk home or the vehicle involved that could help clarify what happened that night?