The quiet of the early morning was shattered in **Fuller Park** when gunfire erupted from a private bus, leaving one woman dead and a community in shock. **Odeal Curley**, 40, had just stepped off the bus on **South Shields Avenue** around **12:40 a.m. Saturday** when a man still on board allegedly opened fire.According to **Chicago Police**, the suspected shooter, **35-year-old Demar King**, fired a shot from inside the vehicle, striking Curley in the **right thigh**.
The bullet hit a major artery, causing severe blood loss before help could arrive. Paramedics responded quickly, rushing her to the **University of Chicago Medical Center**, where doctors worked desperately to stabilize her. Despite their efforts, Curley was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.Witnesses described the scene as chaotic — passengers
screaming, the bus idling with its doors open, and the suspect fleeing moments after the shooting. Detectives quickly identified King as the shooter, issuing a **citywide alert** with his name and description. Authorities have not yet disclosed what led to the shooting or whether Curley and King knew each other, though early reports suggest a possible argument or dispute moments before the violence.
As homicide detectives continue to investigate, officers are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and interviewing passengers who were on the bus at the time. Police have urged King to turn himself in, warning that he should be considered **armed and dangerous**.
Friends and family of Odeal Curley are struggling to comprehend the senseless loss. They describe her as kind, hardworking, and deeply devoted to her loved ones. Her death marks yet another tragic instance of gun violence in Chicago — a life cut short by a single, reckless act in the darkness of an ordinary night.
