On Saturday night, May 6, 2023, what should have been a peaceful night ended in a turn for the worse. Young 24-year-old cop Areanah Preston was shot and killed off duty right outside her home.
A Night Of Terror
Areanah was getting home from work at around 1:40 a.m. Saturday when she was then shot multiple times on the 8100 block of South Blackstone Ave. Officials believe the shooting happened during a stickup that could relate to an earlier robbery. According to police, the city’s gunshot detection system detected at least nine fired rounds that night. Additionally, at 2 a.m. that night, an Apple Watch called 911, saying there was a traffic crash in the area. Afterward, a responding police officer arrived at the scene within 15 minutes and reported Areanah Preston had been shot.
“It’s an off-duty [police officer]. Get an ambulance here now,” said the responding officer on the radio. Evidently, the police rushed her to the University of Chicago Medical Center for immediate attention, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
‘A Beautiful Soul’
Additionally, according to the police, Areanah Preston had been working in the force for three years and had recently been assigned to the Calumet District. Her father, Allen Preston, who resides in L.A. received the most heartbreaking news a parent can ever hear.
“She was trying to make a change on this Earth,” said Allen. He describes his daughter as a “beautiful soul” that had always seen the best in people and always dreamed of being a police officer. He had always been concerned about the dangers of this job, even if she reassured him constantly of her well-being.
Evidently, five people have taken into custody on Sunday night, four juveniles and one adult. However, the charges are still pending review by the state’s attorney’s office. Funeral Arrangements for Areanah Preston have yet to be announced. “I don’t know what to do right now,” said Allen Preston. “I’ll be dealing with this for the rest of my life.”
Written By Erika Paola Cano Peralta
Sources:
NBC Chicago: Killing of Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston Ruled a Line-of-Duty Death
Chicago Sun-Times: Off-duty Chicago police officer killed in Avalon Park always wanted to be a cop, father says
Top and Featured Image Courtesy Of Tony Hisgett Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy Of Johnny Silvercloud Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
