CICERO, Ill. – A 10-month-old boy is fighting for his life after being shot in a double slaying in Cicero on Tuesday night. The baby’s mother and a relative were killed in the tragic incident. The wounded baby is now in serious to critical condition at Comer Children’s Hospital.
The shooting took place on Tuesday night in the 1800 block of South 48th Court after an argument between the child’s father and the baby’s mother, Myeshia Newby, escalated, according to Cicero police Superintendent Thomas Boyle. The baby’s great-grandfather, Mitchell Benton, witnessed the altercation and tragic events that followed.
The baby’s great-aunt, Jessica Hughes, 29, was also in the room at the time and was fatally shot. Both Hughes and Newby were pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital. At the time of the shooting, the baby’s grandmother told officers that the child was unhurt. However, the next morning, the baby was brought to St. Anthony’s Hospital and later transferred to Comer Children’s Hospital, where doctors determined that the child had been shot.
The suspected shooter, Rafael Vega, was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound near the scene of the double slaying early Wednesday morning. Vega had a criminal history, and the circumstances that led to the shooting are still under investigation.
This tragic incident has left a community in mourning and a 10-month-old boy fighting for his life. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the events that led to such a devastating outcome. The senseless loss of life has left a deep impact on the family and the community as a whole.