Tragedy struck at a routine school dropoff when one student’s mother, Romeca Meeks, was shot “point-blank in the face” on Monday morning, September 8, 2025. The suspected shooter, believed to be the mother of one of the student’s father’s other children, is now in custody.
What happened to Romeca Meeks?
Reportedly, after dropping her son off at his school in the South Loop/Chinatown area of Chicago, her ex, her child’s father, Carlos “Losos” Way, and his current partner confronted Meeks. Way reportedly placed Meeks in a headlock during a heated exchange, and the father’s other child’s mother allegedly pulled out a weapon and fatally shot Meeks.
Eyewitnesses say the gun was fired at extremely close range, striking Meeks in the face, specifically the chin, and the thigh. She was rushed to Stroger Hospital, but tragically succumbed to her injuries. Many preliminary details of the case have been confirmed primarily through social media, amid the ongoing investigation by Chicago police.
Shooter in custody claimed self defense
The woman, identified in social media reports as Holly Johnson, is in police custody. She reportedly claims she acted in self-defense and noted she has a valid concealed carry license. However, Meeks’s family and witnesses dispute the self-defense claim. One of Meeks’s relatives stated unequivocally: “This was not self-defense,” asserting that Romeca was ambushed, not engaged in any fight.
Videos and images of the bloody scene, some recorded on cell phones, circulated on social media. Meeks’s family has called for the removal of these graphic visuals out of respect for her memory and her surviving child.
On the morning before the shooting, Meeks shared a poignant note to her son on social media, writing: “Happy Monday son, this is a fresh start to this day and you can start off strong. Always remain yourself, you’re the coolest, smartest and funniest kid I know. I love you so much. – Love Mommy.”
