15-year-old arrested on murder charge in fatal shooting of Chicago postal worker

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection to this summer's fatal shooting of a mother and postal worker who was killed on the job in Chicago, police confirmed this week.

The teen, who was taken into custody in Iowa on Monday, is charged with felony first-degree murder in the shooting of postal worker Octavia Redmond, Chicago police told USA TODAY.

Redmond, 48, was found fatally shot July 19 on her route in the city's West Pullman neighborhood according to information from police and the coroner's office.

A motive in the killing was not provided by police.

Chicago police said investigators used footage from police and private cameras to identify the teen and trace his movements before and after the shooting.

Investigators also received an anonymous tip identifying the suspect and, as of this week, were are searching for other people of interest in the case, police said.

USA TODAY is not naming the teen because he is a minor.

Where was Octavia Redmond shot?

Officials said the shooting took place late morning on July 19 while Redmond was on her route.

The shooting suspect got out of a stolen white Dodge Durango, approached Redmond and shot her multiple times at close range then fled in the vehicle, the U.S. Postal Service reported.

Redmond later died at a hospital.

The suspect's vehicle was found by police the following day, the USPS wrote in a news release.

“Redmond was a wife and mother and is remembered as a staple to the postal customers she served,” a Postal Service news release read Tuesday. "We hope this brings the Redmond family some semblance of relief."

“There is no place for this type of senseless violence," Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the USPS said in the statement. "When members of our postal family are targeted, postal inspectors will not rest until justice is delivered on behalf of the victims, their families, and our postal community. This arrest is the first step in securing justice for Mrs. Redmond."

The victim's husband, Demetrius Redmond created a fundraiser to help her family with funeral expenses.

"The Redmond family is devastated by the tragic loss of the Queen of our family," her husband wrote on the page. "Proceeds will go in honor of Octavia, and directly to her family in efforts to cope with our grief and funeral expenses."

As of Wednesday, nearly $8,000 of a $12,000 goal had been donated to the fundraiser.

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Teen arrested in Chicago postal workers death due in court Nov. 1

According to a news release from Chicago police, its agency with help from U.S. Marshals, arrested the teen in Cedar Rapids.

The boy was extradited to Chicago, where he has been charged as a juvenile, the Cook County State’s Attorney Office confirmed to NBC Chicago. The outlet reported the teen's next court appearance is Nov. 1.

USA TODAY has reached out to the prosecutor's office.

"As this is an ongoing investigation, we continue to urge the public the call us with any additional information they may have that would help us identify and locate other responsible subjects, Postal Inspector Spencer Block told USA TODAY Wednesday.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Chicago police at CPDTIP.com or the USPS 24/7 confidential hotline at 877-876-2455.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.