Smiling’ female postal worker, 48, is brutally shot and killed while delivering mail in Chicago as locals mourn ‘mom of the neighborhood’

A mail carrier considered “the neighborhood mother” has been fatally shot in Chicago.

Octavia Redmond, 48, whose warm smile brought cheer to those on her route, was delivering mail when an unknown gunman drove by around noon on Friday and shot her.

According to Chicago police, the shooting took place on South Harvard Avenue in the South Side neighborhood.

Redmond was busy delivering mail when the suspect pulled out his gun and shot her multiple times before driving away on 121st Street.

Neighbors later said they heard at least ten gunshots.

Authorities are still searching for the unidentified assailant, whose white Dodge Durango was found burning on Saturday.

Chicago police are currently investigating the possibility that the beloved wife and grandmother may have been targeted.

According to Fox 32According to sources familiar with the case, the killer followed Redmond.

They also claimed that the experienced postman was found with all her belongings, indicating that the attack was targeted and not a robbery.

Just before she was shot, Redmond was delivering mail to a neighbor.

Just seconds later, the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, heard at least eight shots.

“I came into the living room and looked out the window. Then I saw her lying on the floor. I thought, that’s the mailman,” he said. Fox 32.

After the attack, the 48-year-old woman was rushed to Christ Hospital, where she later died of her injuries and was pronounced dead.

People who live and work in the area reacted with shock to the violence, which they said was not characteristic of a quiet neighbourhood.

“I’m still looking for my morning or afternoon smile,” said Kim Sanders, who worked nearby.

“Now I have to adapt to someone else,” she said ABC7.

“It can’t be true, not in this area, not in this block, because it’s a lot of older people. And we all know each other,” Sanders said. ABC7.

“My heart is broken because there was a nice lady. She just came up and down the block delivering the mail, she didn’t bother anyone,” the heartbroken woman continued.

Residents along Redmond’s route remembered her as someone who always had a smile on her face.

“We all knew her… she was like a mother to the neighborhood,” Sanders said.

“She comes up to me. Sometimes she says, ‘Have a nice day.’ And sometimes she sees the clients and gives them a sucker or something,” she continued.

“She was a very, very good postwoman.”

Flags were flown at half-staff outside a South Side union building Friday night in memory of Redmond, whose husband also works as a postal worker.

To find the person responsible, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Chicago Division is offering a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

“One of our own, a postal employee, we take very seriously because that’s why we’re here,” U.S. Postal Inspection Service Chief Spencer Block said at a news conference.

Elise Foster, president of Chapter 11 of the National Letter Carriers Association (NALC), expressed her outrage following the shocking murder.

‘I have had the opportunity to get to know [Redmond] and talk to her, she’s a great colleague,’ she said ABC7.

“Sister Redmond is not going home to her family, and I think that’s a problem.”

Foster was even more complimentary of the late postal worker, calling her a “wonderful person.”

The NALC chairman also indicated that more action should be taken against those who target federal employees, such as postal workers.

“They need to prosecute them. We’re federal employees. How dare you? And you just think you can get away with it?”

Foster continues: “My members are afraid to go to work.”

“We’re under attack here in Chicago.”