24-Year-Old Chicago Cop Killed by Four Teens Was Set to Earn Her Master's Degree This Month

Four teenagers have been charged for the shooting death of Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston. Trevell Breeland, 19; Joseph Brooks, 19; Jakwon Buchanan, 18; and a 16-year-old male all reportedly ambushed the 24-year-old outside her home on South Blackstone Avenue in Avalon Park, Il, in a robbery attempt as she returned home from work. According to the CST, a fellow officer responded to a gunshot alert that reportedly came from Areanah's Apple watch and drove her to the hospital, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. The CST also confirmed they "were able to track down one suspect during a stop and also arrested four others after an armed standoff less than five miles from where Preston was shot."

Chicago authorities believe the alleged perpetrators committed multiple robberies the night of the murder, and Areanah was simply another victim they attempted to rob. According to Fox 32 Chicago, the teenagers mainly targeted women for robberies. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Preston would have earned her master's degree in jurisprudence from Loyola University this month; sadly, her mother, Dionne Moon, will accept the degree on her behalf.

Officer Preston was with the Chicago Police Department for three years and was described as a dedicated officer. According to the CST, Sara Block, academic director for child and family law programs at Loyola, stated the young officer "She was a student who was dynamic, intelligent, committed and a very driven person who wanted to make this world a better place."

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