On Sunday, January 18, 2026, at around 4:30 a.m., a mother of five was tragically killed by a firearm in the Woodlawn district of Chicago, Illinois, while on her way to her weekly church service.
The victim, 36-year-old Kiara Jenkins, was discovered lifeless in an alleyway behind her residence on the 6400 block of South Drexel Avenue later in the afternoon at 2:44 p.m. She had sustained multiple bullet wounds and was declared dead at the location.
Jenkins, who would have turned 37 on January 25, 2026, was killed just days prior to her birthday.
Living on the same block as the shooting incident, Jenkins was en route to the 5 a.m. service at Mt. Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church at the time of her death. Church members reported her as a regular attendee of the early morning service and a lifelong member of the church.
The deadly incident has left Jenkins’ five children, aged between 10 and a college freshman, without their mother. The oldest child reportedly told ABC7 that the family is striving to support each other and process the tragic event.
Those who were familiar with Jenkins described her as a warm and inviting individual who was dedicated to both her offspring and her religion. She was always willing to lend a hand, according to her community members, and her consistent church attendance demonstrated the values she aimed to instill in her family.
Michael Adams, a neighbor, portrayed Jenkins as consistently amiable.
Police presence was notably high in the afternoon following the shooting. The site was cordoned off.
A local resident reported hearing gunshots and a car alarm sounding during the early hours when the shooting took place.
The shooting took place in Alderman Jeanette Taylor’s 20th Ward. “Her children are now left without their mother,” Taylor said in a statement. “No words can lessen that pain, but it is important to say clearly that her life had value and her family deserves support, compassion and justice.”
Area One detectives are conducting the murder investigation, but the cause for the shooting remains unclear. No one has been apprehended, and no suspects have been named. Both the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office are participating in the investigation.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered by Chicago Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator responsible for Jenkins’ death. The Chicago police are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them.
The Mt. Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church community, which saw Jenkins as a welcoming figure, is mourning the loss of a vital part of their faith group. Congregation members can’t understand why someone would murder a woman who was always giving to others.
For Jenkins’ children, the upcoming days and weeks will be filled with sorrow as they face life without their mother. The youngest child, only 10 years old, in particular, must confront the harsh reality of growing up without a parent who was actively involved in their daily life. Support from the community, including the church where Jenkins was a member, will be vital as the family grapples with their loss.
