29-year-old Jessica Hughes and 19-year-old Myeshia Newby were shot and killed on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, after arguing over an Illinois state cash assistance card. The 21-year-old killer, Rafael Vega, was found dead at a nearby park with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police in Illinois say that just two days into 2024, a young mother and her cousin were shot dead after an argument over an Illinois state cash assistance card. The shooting occurred at the 1800-block of South 48th Court in Cicero, Illinois.
Just before 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, Cicero police responded to the home and found two women shot. Both of the women were rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they died.
Argument over Illinois state cash assistance
According to family members, 19-year-old Myeshia Newby and the shooter, 21-year-old Rafael Vega, were in a relationship and had a child together. The family members told local reporters that the couple were arguing over the cash assistance card when Vega pulled out a gun and shot Newby and her cousin, 29-year-old Jessica Hughes.
Hughes’ father, Mitchell Benton, recounted to ABC7Chicago the tragedy as it unfolded. Benton said he heard Newby and Vega arguing in the basement of the home. He said that the two had been in a relationship for about two years. Before the shooting, Benton said there was no shouting or anything.
“It went from one thing to the next,” Benton told the outlet. “He come back down and said, ‘Here, look at my wallet.’ She said, ‘You done went up there and took it out.’ So, she said, ‘Well, ain’t no point in me looking in it then.’ And the next thing I know, I’m hearing shot,” Benton said.
According to Benton, Vega shot and killed Newby before turning the gun toward Benton’s daughter, who is Newby’s cousin, Hughes. Benton said Hughes had Newby and Vega’s infant son, Arturo, in her hands when Vega shot her in the face and chest.
“My daughter dropped at my feet. She had the baby in her hand. She had been shot in the face and in the chest. And, he was trying to get by me, so me and him got to fighting,” Benton said.
The infant was grazed and treated at the hospital. Benton said that Vega managed to flee the scene. Cicero police responded to the shooting at the residence and promptly began searching the vicinity for Vega. Police said family members informed them that he had fled to a nearby park at 16th Street and Central Avenue.
The following morning, on Wednesday, police found Vega dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Preliminarily, the subject in the park does appear to be the subject we were seeking,” Cicero Police Superintendent Thomas Boyle said.
