SKIP TO CONTENT PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE 3 Things to Know About Reese Witherspoon’s 3 Kids A Mom, 31, Put a Loving Note in Her Son’s Lunchbox for His Day at School. She Was Shot Dead Minutes After Dropping Him Off Romeca Meeks-Blackmon was fatally shot in the face in Chicago on Monday, Sept. 8, according to reports By Escher Walcott, Becca Longmire, and Angel Saunders Published on September 17, 2025 10:31AM EDT 37 COMMENTS Romeca Meeks alongside a photo of the note she placed in her son’s lunchbox. Credit : Romeca Meeks/Instagram (2) NEED TO KNOW A 31-year-old mother was shot and killed in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood on Monday, Sept. 8 shortly after dropping her son off at school, according to reports The victim has since been identified as Romeca Meeks-Blackmon, according to CBS News Chicago and ABC7 Chicago Meeks-Blackmon was reportedly involved in a physical altercation with another woman who allegedly pulled out a gun and shot her in the face. A person was previously taken into custody, but has since been released A mother was reportedly shot and killed just moments after dropping her son off at school in Chicago. At 9:05 a.m. local time on Monday, Sept. 8, a 31-year-old woman was fatally shot in the face at the 2200 block of South State Street, CBS News, ABC7 Chicago and FOX 32 Chicago reported, citing the Chicago Police Department. The victim has since been identified as Romeca Meeks-Blackmon, according to CBS News Chicago and ABC7 Chicago. Meeks-Blackmon’s family held a vigil to remember her on Friday, Sept. 12 in West Englewood, CBS News Chicago reported. In a video posted by the outlet, the victim’s mother, Tina McMiller, broke down as she told attendees, “I am broken, I am so broken,” following her daughter’s death. According to the victim’s Instagram page, Meeks-Blackmon’s son just started first grade in August. According to local media outlet WGN-TV, the victim had just dropped her son off at school at the time of the shooting. Romeca Meeks-Blackmon posted a photo of a handwritten note for her son before she was shot dead on Sept. 8. Romeca Meeks/Instagram In her last post shared on her Instagram Stories on the Monday she died, Meeks-Blackmon shared a photo of a motivational note she wrote for her son and placed in his packed lunch. “Happy Monday, son, today is the first start to this and you can start off strong,” the note read. “Always remain yourself. You’re the coolest, smartest and funniest kid I know. I love you so much and you make me so proud. Have a great day. Mommy loves you.” A person was reportedly taken into custody following the shooting, but has since been released, according to CBS News Chicago. Meeks-Blackmon’s family is now seeking justice. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.   According to reports, the victim was involved in a physical altercation with a woman she knew, who allegedly pulled out a gun and shot her in the face. Meeks-Blackmon was sent to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said, per ABC7 Chicago. People at a vigil for Romeca Meeks-Blackmon. CBS Chicago/YouTube The cause of the argument between the two women is not known at this time. WGN-TV previously reported that detectives had been speaking with witnesses and reviewing evidence to find out what happened that led to the shooting. RELATED STORIES Woman, 25, Described as a ‘Cherished Mother’ of 2, Shot Dead Inside a Mississippi McDonald’s 4 Little Girls Helped a Man Find Their Pregnant Mother. Then Watched Him Shoot Her in the Back of the Head. The woman’s family told the outlet that she had been working to become a nurse. “She was an outstanding mom who always showed up for her son,” they said in a statement. “She had the purest soul and she was the life of [her] friend group.” PEOPLE has contacted the Chicago Police Department for additional information. LEAVE A COMMENT Read more: CRIME CRIME NEWS You Might Like Woman, Toddler and 6-Year-Old Who Were Found Dead in Lake Michigan Are ID’d, as Loved Ones Speak Out at Balloon Release Crime September 17, 2025 Assistant Principal’s Husband Comes to Middle School, Kills Her and Mother Before Turning Gun on Himself Crime September 18, 2025 2-Month-Old Among 6 Children Found Locked Inside Milwaukee Storage Unit as 2 Are Arrested Crime September 17, 2025 Comments All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. PEOPLE does not endorse the opinions and views shared by readers in our comment sections. 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