Tragic Ambush in Auburn Gresham: 26-Year-Old Mother Gabryel Ayres Killed in Broad-Daylight Shooting; Infant Daughter Miraculously Unharmed

CHICAGO — In a brazen act of violence that has shaken Chicago’s South Side, 26-year-old Gabryel “Gabby” Gnia Ayres was fatally shot on February 4, 2026, in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. The attack unfolded around 1:25 p.m. in the 7900 block of South May Street, near St. Sabina Parish, when multiple gunmen approached the vehicle she was traveling in and opened fire with what witnesses and evidence suggest were automatic weapons.

According to Chicago Police Department reports and multiple news outlets, Ayres was a passenger in a white sedan alongside her 27-year-old boyfriend. Their approximately 14-month-old daughter was secured in a car seat in the back. The assailants—described in video footage as three masked individuals in black clothing—rushed toward the car after it crashed into a GMC van, firing dozens of rounds. More than 50 shell casings were recovered at the scene, with some accounts noting evidence markers indicating over 50 shots fired in the hail of gunfire.

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Ayres sustained multiple gunshot wounds to her body and was transported to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition. She was later pronounced dead. Her boyfriend, struck in the backside and arm, survived and is reported in stable or good condition at a hospital. Remarkably, the infant girl escaped injury entirely, described by family, officials, and community members as a “miracle.” A police officer was captured on video carrying the unharmed child to safety from the bullet-riddled vehicle.

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Kirk Bell, Ayres’ godfather and a pastor, expressed profound grief and outrage in interviews. “You know, there’s a baby in the car. These animals have no value for life. This is nothing to them,” Bell said. He described Ayres as a devoted mother whose world revolved around her child, emphasizing her fierce, protective love. Her obituary highlights her as a woman who “loved deeply and gave everything,” noting that her baby’s survival amid the chaos stands as both a miracle and a testament to her final moments of maternal devotion.

The attack appears targeted, with video from a witness showing the gunmen sprinting toward the sedan in broad daylight on a busy street. No motive has been publicly confirmed, but the proximity to ongoing gang activity in the area has fueled speculation. Authorities have not made any arrests as of February 6, 2026, and the investigation remains active.

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Cook County Crime Stoppers announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest or indictment of those responsible. Tips can be submitted anonymously online or by calling 1-800-535-STOP.

Community leaders and residents have voiced exhaustion over recurring gun violence claiming innocent lives, particularly those of Black mothers and bystanders caught in crossfire. “We are tired of burying our women,” echoed sentiments in social media tributes and local discussions. Ayres’ death has reignited calls for stronger measures against gang-related shootings and illegal firearms in Chicago.

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Friends and family remember Ayres as a loving, vibrant young woman whose legacy lives on through her daughter. Online memorials, including the National Gun Violence Memorial, honor her life and urge justice. As the city mourns, the focus remains on supporting the surviving child and family while pursuing accountability for this senseless tragedy.

No further updates on suspects or charges were available as of early February 6, 2026. Police continue to canvass for witnesses and review surveillance footage from the area.