Aisha Nickole Hayes Shepard was 38 when she was killed in a shooting in Dorchester, Boston, in the early hours of August 9, 2021. She was found with an apparent gunshot wound on Irma Street near the Mattapan line after police responded about 12:30 a.m.; five other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Immediate medical efforts were unsuccessful and Aisha succumbed to her wounds.

A mother of three daughters, Aisha graduated from Brighton High School and held an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Roxbury Community College. She worked as a Residence Coordinator at Heading Home Shelter, was the oldest of eleven siblings, and was described by family as loving, caring, smart, funny, direct, and helpful. The Boston Police Department opened a homicide investigation; no public details about suspects or arrests have been released.

If anyone knew Aisha, witnessed the shooting, or has information that could help the investigation, please come forward.