A 36-year-old mother of three who had stopped at a mobile store to pay a bill was killed by a stray bullet meant for a gang member in Chicago on April 26.
Candice Dickerson, a pharmacy technician wanted to make sure her phone service would not be disconnected and had stopped by a Metro by T-Mobile store in the 5900 block of South Kedzie Avenue, reported the WGN TV.
At about 6:30 p.m. she was fatally shot by a stray bullet that flew in through the window and hit her in the head.
Outside the store, two “unknown males” were firing at each other and one of their bullets hit Dickerson, said the police. She was accompanied by her two sons, aged 12 and 10 when the bullet hit her.
Please say a prayer for the 3 boys of 36-year-old Candice Dickerson.
Dickerson was shot by a stray bullet around 6:30 Friday evening right in front of her two youngest children, ages 12 and 10, at the Metro PCS store on 59th and Kedzie. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/NBK4t3mCfj
— Eric Cox (@EricCoxTV) April 27, 2019
The mother was trying to rent out a four-bedroom apartment for herself, one room for herself and one each for her three sons.
“I was scared and I called everyone as possible even though it was hard for me to say that my mum got shot, I still said it,” Dickerson’s 12-year-old son, Jacarey told ABC7 Chicago.
EXCLUSIVE:
My heartbreaking sit-down interview with a young boy who watched his mom get shot and killed. His younger brother was beside him. Candice Dickerson was an innocent victim, shot in the head by a stray bullet. She leaves behind three wonderful young boys. pic.twitter.com/24bwGcuRQI
— DIANE PATHIEU (@pathieuabc7) April 27, 2019
No one else was injured in the crossfire. A witness told WGN TV that the two men were firing at a sedan and that they heard three gunshots.
“It’s scary, now I’m like I can’t believe that it happened to the lady,” Barbara Alvarez who had visited the store before the shooting told ABC13.
“I mean she was right there next to me on my right side, her kids were right there sitting by the window minding their business, my son was with me too,” she said.
Police have not taken anyone into custody yet and are checking the surveillance footage video.
In another completely contradictory incident that happened in 2017, a cellphone saved a local musician’s life from a stray bullet in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Ben Tynan, singer, and guitarist with the Hollow Decks band, was packing up after the Oct. 26 show at the Louisiana State Fair when he heard something akin to firecrackers.
“I start walking around just the area we were performing in looking for a stray firework or something to give my mind ease,” he told Fox 33.
He reached into the cargo pocket of his pants to check his phone a saw the plastic case was broken. The phone blocked a bullet.
“I am an incredibly, incredibly lucky human being,” he said.
The bullet originated from shooting on Greenwood Road. Police found at least 20 bullet casings along the road. The road runs by the State Fair venue.
“It went across the street, traveled a hundred yards over 20 or more RVs and trucks, to hit a tent and then come down on me,” Tynan said.
What appears to be a bullet hole was found in the tent.
Two other people were injured in the shooting and are recovering, police said.
Since the state fair was closed, no visitors were injured.
“It’s super fortunate it was after the show was over,” Tynan said.
He said he was shaken by the incident, but not enough to cancel another gig with his band the next day.
He did file a police report.
The band posted a statement regarding the incident on Facebook on Oct. 27.
“We know there are a lot of rumors out there today, but the band would like to reassure everyone that we are safe and sound,” it stated, mentioning Tynan was left with a bruise.
Epoch Times reporter Petr Svab contributed to this report.
