Chicago, Illinois – A tragic incident unfolded in the Back of the Yards neighborhood when a 19-year-old woman lost her life in a drive-by shooting. The shooting occurred late in the evening on June 11, 2024, on Garfield Boulevard. Three young women were traveling in a Chevy Malibu when a silver SUV pulled up and opened fire on them.
The driver of the car, identified as Cyra C. Magby, succumbed to her injuries from the shooting. Fortunately, the two other women in the vehicle escaped unharmed. The community was left in shock by the senseless act of violence that claimed the life of a recent graduate of Englewood Stem High School, a promising young athlete who played basketball for her school.
On March 3, 2025, authorities made a breakthrough in the case when Elijah Stiffened, a 20-year-old resident of Chicago, was taken into custody. Stiffened faces serious charges including first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting incident that took Magby’s life.
Stiffened was apprehended in the 2700 block of S. California Avenue, where law enforcement officers acted on crucial information to bring him into custody. The community awaits further developments in the legal proceedings as Stiffened is set to appear in court soon to answer to the charges against him.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Magby’s car collided with another vehicle on Halsted Street. The occupants of the second vehicle, a 43-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, sustained minor injuries in the crash but were expected to recover. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence in communities across the city.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a young life and seeks justice for Cyra C. Magby. The incidents highlight the need for greater efforts to address the root causes of violence and to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents in Chicago’s neighborhoods.