Man Ordered Held Until Trial in Woman’s Shooting Death in Back of the Yards
Accused of Fatal Shooting
A man accused of fatally shooting a 19-year-old girl last year in the Back of the Yards neighborhood was ordered held until trial. Elijah Stiffened, 20, faces one felony count of first-degree murder and two felony counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting that killed Cyra Magby, Chicago police said.
What Happened on the Day of the Shooting
About 11 p.m. on June 11, 2024, Magby was driving with her boyfriend and another friend when they pulled into a Shell gas station near Garfield Boulevard and Halsted Street. As they pulled into the lot, Magby and her boyfriend saw a person they recognized from high school get into a Nissan Rogue being driven by Stiffened. Magby and her boyfriend had been friendly with Stiffened until a mutual friend was killed, at which point they no longer stayed in contact.
Magby’s Boyfriend Witnesses the Shooting
Magby’s boyfriend saw the person point them out to Stiffened and because of that, Magby decided to drive away, prosecutors said. But police say Stiffened followed Magby to the 800 block of West Garfield Boulevard, pulling up along the passenger side of her car. Magby’s boyfriend saw Stiffened holding something in his hand, and seconds later he saw a flash and heard a gunshot.
The Shooting
Magby was struck by a bullet that went through the rear right passenger window, traveled through the front passenger head rest and struck her in the upper back, prosecutors said. After she was shot, Magby tried to speed away but swerved and drove head-on into a Volkswagen Jetta with two people inside. The occupants in the Jetta suffered minor injuries. Magby’s boyfriend was not hurt.
Aftermath
Magby was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Two days after the shooting, officers found the Nissan — which had been reported stolen 10 days before — abandoned at 5559 S. Michigan Ave. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle and a shell casing was found on the front driver’s-side floor board, prosecutors said. The Nissan tested positive for gunshot residue and DNA inside the SUV was linked to Stiffened, prosecutors said.
Conclusion
Elijah Stiffened is being held until trial, accused of fatally shooting 19-year-old Cyra Magby in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. The case is a tragic reminder of the senseless violence that plagues our city, and we hope that justice is served.
FAQs
* What is the charge against Elijah Stiffened?
+ One felony count of first-degree murder and two felony counts of attempted first-degree murder.
* What is the alleged motive behind the shooting?
+ The motive is not clear, but it appears to be related to a personal dispute with Magby’s boyfriend and a mutual friend who was killed.
* What is the current status of the case?
+ Elijah Stiffened is being held until trial, which is scheduled for March 25.
The scene in the 800 block of West Garfield Boulevard where Cyra Magby was shot to death in June 2024. The suspect in her slaying, Elijah Stiffened, 20, is being held in custody pending trial.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times file
The Scene of the Crime
The scene in the 800 block of West Garfield Boulevard where Cyra Magby was shot to death in June 2024. The suspect in her slaying, Elijah Stiffened, 20, is being held in custody pending trial.
