BACK OF THE YARDS — A fundraising campaign has been launched to help the family of Naome Zuber, the 17-year-old high school senior whose life was ended by a stray bullet in Back of the Yards early Saturday morning.
Around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Naome was riding in the back seat of a car when someone fired shots from the sidewalk, police said. She did not appear to be the intended target.
She was pronounced dead soon after, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
Naome had been on her way to a friend's birthday party, according to the "Remembering Naome Zuber" GoFundMe Page.
The page's creator called her "the sweetest most lovable person I knew," who "loved volleyball, shopping and just being with her friends." She was the oldest of three children.
As of late Sunday morning, the campaign had raised more than $4,500 toward her funeral expenses.
Naome attended Curie High School, 4959 S. Archer Ave., and worked part-time selling concessions at U.S. Cellular Field, her family told NBC Chicago Saturday.
She was also a member of the school's cheerleading squad, added anti-violence activist Andrew Holmes, who has launched an effort to track down Naome's killer.
Holmes canvassed the Back of the Yards neighborhood Saturday afternoon, asking residents to call a hotline with information on the person who pulled the trigger.
"We're giving out fliers, looking for anyone with any information on who discharged that weapon," Holmes said Sunday. "This is a girl who's supposed to be a senior in high school. She was looking forward to graduating and continuing her education."
Holmes said he "ha[s] faith" that the shooter will be brought to justice.
The activist launched a similar campaign after a 71-year-old man was shot on his front lawn in the Marquette Park neighborhood last month. Police arrested a man 10 days later, thanks to witnesses who came forward, Holmes said.
Cook County Board Commissioner Sean Morrison has personally pledged a $2,000 reward for anyone who gives information leading to the arrest of Naome's killer, Holmes said.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Holmes' anonymous hotline at 1-800-UTELLUS, or 1-800-883-5587.
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