CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The family of an 18-year-old woman, who was shot and killed on the Southwest Side over the weekend, said she was a "beautiful soul" with a bright future ahead.
Melissa De La Garza was a recent graduate of the Solorio Academy High School in Gage Park.
She was shot and killed outside of her childhood home at 54th and Avers around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night. She was sitting in a parked car when she was shot.
Her sister, Isabel, told CBS 2 that she was a painter who had accepted a scholarship to the School of the Art Institute. Melissa was also a high school wrestler.
“She encouraged girls to also join the wrestling team, like you can do this. Just because we’re girls, we’re not weak,” De La Garza said. “She would beat the boys. She was good.”
Family members don't believe Melissa was the target of the shooting, because they said she didn't have any enemies.
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