The community has raised over $43,000 in a day for the family of a Waukegan High School volleyball coach and counselor who was fatally shot in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 10:36 p.m. Saturday to 10th Street and Lewis Avenue in Waukegan for a report of shots fired.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain said officers arrived and found two vehicles that had been struck by gunfire.
The first vehicle was occupied by a man, who was uninjured but had a bullet hole in his vehicle.
The second vehicle, a white Honda, was occupied by Niolis Collazo, 23, of Waukegan.
Paramedics transported Collazo to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where she was pronounced dead.
Police shut down the intersection where the shooting happened for several hours to investigate.
Multiple shell casings were seen in the roadway nearby Collazo’s Honda.
Waukegan High School Director of Athletics Colette Erbach sent a message to parents Sunday afternoon about Collazo’s death.
“I am sending this email to all of you with an extremely heavy heart and huge sadness,” Erbach said.
Collazo was an assistant freshman boys volleyball coach at Waukegan High School and a Working on Womanhood counselor at Edith Smith Middle School in Waukegan.
Collazo was also a former Waukegan High School student who excelled in athletics and music, Erbach said.
Collazo has a sister who is a senior that is on the girls varsity softball team and plays volleyball, Erbach said.
“This is a tragic incident that will require our athletes and staff to talk to counselors,” Erbach said, adding that counselors were made available this week.
An autopsy conducted by the Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed Collazo died from a gunshot wound.
Chastain said Collazo’s vehicle and the second vehicle struck by gunfire were traveling in different directions and they were not connected to each other.
Collazo has no criminal history or other known issues, Chastain said, adding that investigators are unsure whether she was the intended target or not.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crime Scene Unit and the Criminal Investigations Division responded to investigate the incident.
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said she is livid and outraged by the tragedy.
“While we donโt know the details of how Ms. Collazo became the victim of gun violence in our hometown, I do know that this senseless and stupid use of guns on our streets must end,” Taylor said.
“Ms. Collazo was a beloved coach, counselor, and mentor, and on behalf of the City of Waukegan, I extend my deepest condolences to the Collazo family. I know that the Waukegan Police Department will work diligently to get to the bottom of this horrific crime, and I will do whatever I can as Mayor to support this investigation,” Taylor said.
A GoFundMe account initially started to help Collazo’s family pay for her funeral services has raised over $43,000 from nearly 700 donors in one day.
Highland Park resident Claudia Popielarczyk said in the fundraiser that Nitza Rivera and Terry Joiner experienced the “tragic loss” of their daughter and the money collected will help them focus on grieving instead of worrying about finances.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Waukegan Police Department tip line at 847-360-9001.
Tips can also be sent through the police department’s app or by callingย the Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222.