Authorities are investigating after spray paint reading “Aaren O’Connor’s killers” appeared on a building in Chicago over the weekend, nearly one week after the 25-year-old woman was fatally struck by a stray bullet in the city.
The spray paint, which included an arrow pointed up toward a window, was seen on a home in the 2000 block of West 21st Street in the city’s Pilsen neighborhood on the same day community volunteers and police distributed flyers asking for information on the shooting.
“Detectives are aware [of the spray paint] and taking all information into consideration,” Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Ana Pacheco said. “This investigation and the capture of an offender or offenders relies on evidence and credible information from witnesses. We’re urging the public, if anyone has any additional information that they have not already provided, we urge them to contact Chicago police or Crime Stoppers so that we can hold those responsible for this tragic incident accountable.”
O’Connor was sitting in her car around 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in the 2000 block of West 21st Street when a bullet struck her in the back of the head. Police have yet to make any arrests.
Family and friends along with officers from the Chicago Police Department and volunteers with Cook County Crime Stoppers passed out approximately 2,000 flyers asking for tips Saturday. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
Police said there are two conflicting gangs in the area and O'Connor may have been caught in the crossfire. Investigators also say they have a number of promising leads.
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“There’s someone who’s within two or three blocks of this incident who’s watching this right now and who knows who did it, saw something, heard something, or knows something,” Gene Roy, Chief of Detectives for CPD, said during a news conference Saturday morning.
Although investigators are currently reviewing private video as well as footage from a CTA bus, police are asking anyone who has information about the incident to come forward.
“This could have been anyone sitting right there," Carlos Sorto, O'Connor's boyfriend, said. "It just happened to be Aaren. But it really could just have been anyone.”
Aaren O’Connor moved to Chicago a year and a half ago from San Diego to work at Tomy, a toy company with offices in suburban Oak Brook.
David O'Connor, Aaren's father, said last week that he was on the phone with his daughter at the time of the shooting and will never forget the last words they exchanged.
"She kept saying repeatedly, 'My head hurts, my head hurts,'" David O'Connor said. "I just wish I could have told her that I knew what was going on and I could have told her one more time that I love her and that I'm so proud of her."
A GoFundMe page had been set up to help O’Connor’s family pay for her funeral. Remaining donations will start the scholarship program in her memory.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Central Detectives at (312) 747-8380 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-535-STOP.
