Jeanette Laureano, a 24-year-old woman from Chicago, was shot and killed on March 18, 2016. She was driving a van and had parked outside a corner store in the 2700 block of North Kilbourn Avenue at about 5:52 p.m. Her cousin and others left the vehicle to go into the store. After an exchange of gang slogans and signs with occupants of a passing car, a man identified as 32-year-old Emmanuel Raya got out of a black Mercedes, approached the van and fired several rounds at close range into the front seat where Jeanette was seated. She was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital at 6:36 p.m. that evening.

A witness recorded part of the Mercedes plate and surveillance video outside the store captured the shooting. The car was registered to Raya’s cousin. Raya, described as a member of the Maniac Latin Disciple gang, was charged with first-degree murder; court proceedings introduced evidence the shooting was carried out in tribute to a Maniac Latin Disciple killed by Spanish Cobras, a rival gang with which Jeanette associated. The conviction was later affirmed despite challenges to prejudicial evidence.

If anyone was in the area that evening or knows more about the people who were with Jeanette, please share what you remember.