Assistant volleyball coach at the Waukegan High School Niolis Collazo, 23 years old, was shot and died over the weekend in Waukegan, Illinois, leaving students, faculty, and the local community in shock and grief
Collazo also worked with girls at Smith Middle School as a counsellor for Youth Guidance’s “Working on Womanhood” programme. People who knew her said she was a committed mentor and supporter for young people.
Who is Waukegan High School Volleyball assistant coach Niolis Collazo shot dead in Illinois shooting
Reports say that Collazo was shot and killed in Waukegan on May 6, 2023, around 10:45 p.m., at the corner of 10th Street and Lewis Avenue. Several shell casings were found on the ground near a white car. So far, no suspects have been found, and the investigation is still going on.
Hear from the family of Niolis Collazo – a volleyball coach at Waukegan High School who was shot and killed over the weekend. The message her stepfather wishes to share @ 6 on @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/IDEeUUSggz
— Christine Flores (@CFlores_tv) May 8, 2023
When the school found out that Collazo had died, it sent out the following email to its community: “It is with great sadness that we report the unexpected death of Ms. Niolis Collazo. Ms. Collazo worked at Waukegan High School as an assistant teacher for boys’ volleyball. She also worked with girls at Smith Middle School as a counsellor for Youth Guidance’s “Working on Womanhood” programme.
In addition to working at Waukegan High School, she managed and counselled girls at Waukegan Smith Middle School and was a counsellor for the “Working On Womanhood” programme in Chicago.
Collazo’s death has devastated a lot of students, staff, and people in the neighbourhood. On Monday, counsellors were at Smith Middle School, Waukegan High School’s Washington and Brookside schools, and Waukegan Middle School to help those who were hurt by her death.
Congratulations to Niolis Collazo for being named to the NSC All Conference girls volleyball team! @boricuaxlovinn pic.twitter.com/EqWdUzkHxN
— Waukegan Volleyball (@waukvolleyball) November 2, 2017
Waukegan police say that around 10:35 p.m., they were called to the corner of 10th Street and Lewis Avenue after reports of gunshots. When they got there, they saw that two cars had been shot at. Before the killing, the cars were going in different directions and had nothing to do with each other.
Details remain scarce on Niolis Collazo’s tragic passing
The man victim in the first car, which had only been hit once, was not hurt. Collazo was the only person in the second car, a Honda Civic. He was shot, and he died at Vista East Medical Centre.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office is doing an exam on the body, but they haven’t said much about what happened yet. But Collazo’s family has said that she really wanted to help young people. Mia Carani, her sister, said that she called her sister from North Chicago on her way home to Waukegan to tell her that she had left her house keys behind.
On Monday, the school district’s Mental Health Response Team will be at Smith Middle School, as well as the Washington and Brookside campuses of Waukegan High School. The employee said that Youth Guidance would send more people to Smith to help students with their mental health.
The sad death of Niolis Collazo has had a huge effect on the people of Waukegan. As the investigation into her death goes on, many people are still shocked and saddened by the loss of a much-loved coach, guide, and advocate for young people.
ALSO READ: Mauricio Garcia Allen Mall Texas mass shooting video goes viral on Twitter and Reddit