Dwyane Wade’s 32-year-old cousin, Nykea Aldridge, was fatally shot on Chicago’s South Side while pushing her child in a stroller on Friday afternoon, his family and local police tell NBC Chicago.
The shooting, which occurred at 3:30 p.m. local time on the 6300 block of South Calumet, was allegedly a gang-related incident gone awry.
Two men reportedly approached a third man when gunfire erupted, striking Aldridge, who was caught in the crossfire, in the head and arm. She was promptly rushed to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, but pronounced dead on arrival.
Wade’s Mother, Pastor Jolinda Wade, confirmed the victim was her niece.
Another relative and family spokesman, Pastor Edward Jones, said the victim was a Mother of four and only recently had her baby. At the time of the shooting, she was on her way to register her children ahead of the new school year.
“She loved God, loved her family,” Jones said. “Just like everyone else, just wanted a better life, to live a better life. This is tragic because now it struck home with us. Something has to be done. This has got to stop.”
As of Friday evening, at least one suspect was in custody, but police say the investigation is ongoing.
Wade, who joined his hometown Chicago Bulls earlier this year after 14 years with the Miami Heat, has long spoken out against the ongoing violence in Chicago. He recently joined ESPN’s round-table panel addressing exactly that.
Last November, Wade also honored Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 by Chicago police, by writing her name and the hashtag “#justice” on his shoes.
Aldridge’s child was not injured during the shooting and is now in the custody of family members.
