Brighton Park Woman Dies Two Weeks After Road Rage Shooting

Rosa Hernandez Rivera died Thursday morning from head injuries sustained during an Oct. 22 shooting in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood.

The 32-year-old mother of five was driving a minivan with her boyfriend and two young children when an unidentified driver pulled alongside the vehicle. The suspect opened fire around 9:30 a.m. near West 47th Street and South Western Avenue. Surveillance footage from local businesses shows the shooter following the minivan closely, a pattern 15th Ward Alderman Raymond Lopez describes as the result of an incident that occurred several blocks earlier.

Hernandez Rivera remained in critical condition for two weeks before passing. Her sister, Sonia Hernandez, stated that the family spent the fortnight praying for a recovery that did not materialize. "I had a chance to say bye yesterday and today in the morning," Hernandez said. The family described the children as deeply affected by the event, with the two who were in the car experiencing the most trauma.

Police are treating the incident as a homicide. As of Thursday night, no suspects were in custody. Hernandez urged the responsible party to surrender, noting that the family cannot accept another potential victim. "The responsible person should turn themself in. This time was my sister, the next time they could get somebody else," she said.

Cook County Crime Stoppers has issued a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The case remains open with investigators reviewing the video evidence and witness accounts from the block.