CHICAGO, IL – A United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier was fatally shot in the West Pullman neighborhood of Chicago on Friday. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has since announced a reward of up to $250,000 for information that leads to the suspect’s arrest.
The authorities responded to a shooting report at the 12100 block of South Harvard around 11:30 a.m. The 48-year-old victim was quickly transported to Christ Hospital, but she ultimately passed away from her injuries. The victim was later identified as Octavia Redmond, a Chicago resident and an employee of USPS for the past five years.
The shooter escaped from the scene in a westbound vehicle on 121st Street, and no arrests have been made yet.
The tragedy spurs coworkers to gather at Advocate Christ Medical Center, where they share their sadness and appeals for answers. Redmond, a mother of three, was reportedly considering leaving the USPS before her untimely death.
Her death represents a concerning trend of increasing violence against postal workers. Redmond is the third USPS worker killed on the job this year nationwide. In Chicago alone, since December, there have been five recorded armed robberies against postal workers.
In light of these events, the letter carriers’ union is pressing for enhanced safety protocols. Union representative Elise Foster insisted on securing better protection strategies, suggesting patrols for every postal route if necessary.