SOUTH LOOP — A gunman pulled alongside a minivan on Lake Shore Drive and fired up to 14 shots into it Friday morning, killing the woman who was driving and leaving a major off-ramp blocked to traffic for more than five hours.
The woman was identified as Michelle Smith, 32, of the 5040 block of South Paulina Street, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
Police found Smith dead behind the wheel at 4:20 a.m. Friday. Her bullet-riddled 2000 Dodge minivan was parked on the off-ramp leading from southbound Lake Shore Drive to the Stevenson Expy. next to McCormick Place.
Smith was driving with a 37-year-old, unarmed female passenger when a brown van pulled up to the left of them on the off-ramp and fired 10 to 14 shots at their car, State Police Capt. Luis Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said the shooting was related to "drug and gang activity," adding the women were driving from a North Side location. Gutierrez wouldn't elaborate on where they were coming from.
Police said Smith was shot multiple times.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said.
Police urged anyone with information on the incident to call (847) 294-4400.
