Nathaniel Rooster Jefferson, 35, was shot and killed in broad daylight on the 5500 block of West Lake Street in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on September 22, 2025. The shooting happened at about 3:10 p.m. while Jefferson sat in a parked car; an assailant approached the vehicle, opened fire, and fled. Jefferson was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead. The Cook County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.

Area 4 detectives canvassed the block, collected evidence and sought witnesses. No arrests were made at the scene, no motive has been publicly identified, and officials have described the shooter only as an unknown assailant. Family organized a fundraiser for arrangements, and community tributes used the nickname Rooster. The investigation remains active and detectives are asking anyone who saw or heard anything that afternoon to come forward.