Chicago Teen Melissa Castrejon, 17, Killed in North Austin Shooting; Police Say Suspect Known to Her
What happened
A 17-year-old high school senior was shot and killed Sunday night in Chicago’s North Austin neighborhood, a West Side community where residents and city officials have long grappled with gun violence.
Police were called to the 1800 block of North Latrobe Avenue shortly before 9:40 p.m. The teenager, identified as Melissa Castrejon, was inside a vehicle when she was shot. She was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition and later died.
Investigators said the suspected shooter was a male known to the victim. No further public identification of the suspect was included in initial reporting, and it was not immediately clear whether an arrest had been made.
Family accounts and the victim’s life
Castrejon’s mother and older brother described the shooting as a shock that upended their family within minutes. Her mother said she was at work when she received the call that no parent expects.
“We’re just in shock still. I still can’t believe it. I feel that this is a bad dream, that this isn’t happening. It’s very hard,” her mother said.
Relatives said Castrejon was a high school senior who loved fashion and planned to open a nail salon. Family members said she was with a cousin and three friends when the shooting occurred, and that she suffered two gunshot wounds.
What is known about the investigation
Public details remain limited in the immediate aftermath. The available information indicates the shooting occurred while Castrejon was in a vehicle and that the suspect was someone she knew, narrowing the event toward a targeted encounter rather than a random act.
At this stage, the outstanding questions include the circumstances leading up to the shooting, whether the victim and suspect had prior documented conflicts, and what evidence—such as witness statements, surveillance video, ballistic findings, or digital communications—investigators are using to identify and locate the shooter.
Context: North Austin and shootings on Chicago’s West Side
North Austin is part of Chicago’s West Side, where residents have repeatedly faced the consequences of firearm violence affecting families, schools, and neighborhood life. Incidents involving teenagers often prompt heightened concern because they intersect with school communities and peer networks, and can involve disputes that escalate quickly when firearms are present.
What happens next
Police will continue interviewing witnesses and the people who were with Castrejon at the time of the shooting.
Detectives typically seek corroborating evidence, including video footage from nearby cameras and forensic processing connected to the vehicle and scene.
The case’s trajectory will depend on whether investigators can rapidly identify the suspect, secure an arrest warrant, and recover the firearm used.
The family said they want accountability for the person responsible, while also focusing on remembering Castrejon’s life and the plans she had after high school.