A young mother was killed during what should have been a regular school pickup last week, and her family is in grief.
According to family members, on May 5, Krystal Cruz, 26, was picking up her 16-year-old brother and one of his friends from Peace and Education Coalition High School in the Back of the Yards neighborhood when gunshots broke out.
Cruz’s grandmother, Stella Hernandez, told Fox Chicago that a motorcycle approached the vehicle and two persons opened fire.
Cruz’s brother and buddy were both injured and hospitalized but are expected to recover, according to the family. Cruz did not survive.
Cruz, according to Hernandez, was a cheerful and compassionate person who dedicated her life to raising her four daughters. The girls’ ages range from 6 to 10 years old. Crystal was a happy person. “She was always willing to help anyone and everyone,” Hernandez added.
According to the family, the youngsters are still unsure of their mother’s fate. “We told them that their mother is in heaven and will watch over them,” Hernandez explained. “But they just stare at us as if they don’t understand. The six-year-old said, “Grandma, when is Mommy getting up? She’s asleep. ‘And this tears our hearts. And then, you know, the other girls are so happy; you know, they’re making decorations for Mother’s Day, and they’re so happy to give it to them to give it to their mom, and we don’t know what to tell them, so we’re going through it hard. Imagine when they realize their mind isn’t going to come back.”
Cruz’s family has announced that memorial ceremonies will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.
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