Chicago’s usually calm West Rogers Park neighborhood felt shock and sorrow Friday after a woman was found shot inside her second‑floor apartment on North Bell Avenue. Police say the victim, later identified as 36‑year‑old Da’J Flowers, was discovered just before 9:15 a.m. with at least one gunshot wound to her abdomen and pronounced dead at the scene.
Friends described Flowers as a lively city worker who brightened rooms with her smile and determination. She served as a senior administrative assistant and had worked for the Chicago Department of Public Health. Colleagues grew alarmed when she didn’t show up for work Friday and couldn’t be reached, prompting a well‑being check that led police to her home.
Neighbors in the 6900 block of North Bell Avenue said they still can’t believe violence touched their street. Many described the two‑building condo complex as a peaceful place where people waved hello and looked out for one another. Some residents said they were shaken by the news, unsure how a tragedy like this could unfold where children play and dogs walk without much worry.
Chicago police’s Area Three detectives have opened a homicide probe but have not released a suspect or clear motive. No arrests have been reported, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $10,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest.
Friends and family have taken to social media to share memories of Flowers as a bright, ambitious presence in their lives. One close friend recalled her laughter and drive, saying she “always had the answers” and pushed others to be their best selves. Tributes poured in, painting a picture of someone who lived deeply in her community and lifted up others around her.
Flowers’s passing has struck a chord beyond her immediate circle. Conversations among neighbors and coworkers have shifted from disbelief to a shared call for justice and remembrance. For many, this loss is more than a headline—it’s a reminder of how fragile life can be, even on quiet blocks.
Police continue to investigate what led up to the shooting and whether Flowers knew her attacker. Officials have asked anyone with video, observations or details to reach out to detectives anonymously. The community, still processing its grief, is watching closely as answers slowly trickle in.
