The early morning of March 11, 2025, in Auburn Gresham ended with the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Tayon Nathaniel R.J. Stray, known to family as Tayski. Officers responding to reported gunfire found Stray critically wounded on a sidewalk in the 1400 block of West 77th Street at about 2:35 a.m.; he was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and pronounced dead at 4:02 a.m.

Investigators recovered a firearm at the scene, but police did not say whether it belonged to Stray, the shooter, or someone else. Chicago Police Department Area Two detectives were assigned to the homicide; as of the initial reports no arrests, suspect identification, motive, or surveillance or witness accounts had been publicly disclosed.

Stray grew up in the Chicago area and had lived in Aurora, Naperville, and West Chicago before returning to the city. He worked in inventory management and pursued rap music, remembered by family as charismatic, funny, adventurous, and fiercely loyal. If anyone knew Tayski or has information about what happened that night, please share what is known.