Martina L. Mosby, a 43-year-old African American woman, was killed in Chicago’s first homicide of 2025. The shooting took place in the early hours of January 1 at her home in the 1200 block of South Sawyer Avenue in North Lawndale after a New Year’s celebration with her long-time boyfriend, 38-year-old Reginald Freeman, and her 18-year-old daughter. Prosecutors say Freeman fired multiple shots after an argument and that Mosby was struck several times; she was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Police recovered eleven shell casings at the scene consistent with a .40-caliber firearm that Freeman allegedly used. After the shooting Freeman fled, tried to hide weapons in a trash can and reportedly attempted to stop Mosby’s daughter from calling 911; he was arrested minutes later in the 3200 block of West Roosevelt Road. Freeman has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held pending trial; his past charges include a 2017 weapons and aggravated assault case that was dropped when the complainant did not appear in court.

Who in North Lawndale might have been at the gathering or saw anything around midnight on January 1?