Chicago woman injured in mass shooting at 25th birthday party enters hospice care

A Long Fight for Peace

Mariah Vera, a young woman whose life was marked by love and selflessness, has been fighting for survival for over two and a half years after being critically injured in a mass shooting in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood. The incident, which took place at her 25th birthday party, left her father and two others dead, and Mariah in critical condition with severe brain injuries. Now, her family is preparing to move her to hospice care, but they are facing a new challenge: the cost of her final medical treatment and funeral.

The shooting occurred on Sunday, December 18, 2022, around 2:26 a.m., outside the Vera Lounge, a family-owned bar located at 3235 N. Central Ave. What should have been a celebration turned into a tragedy when an uninvited guest caused trouble, leading to a violent confrontation. According to prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's office, the events began at 2:20 a.m. when someone hit Mariah during the party. Her father, Ricky Vera, 50, confronted another man named Samuel Parsons-Salas, asking him who had hit his daughter.

Parsons-Salas then retrieved a gun from his car and shot Ricky Vera in the head and chest, killing him. He also fatally shot Mario Pozuelos, a 26-year-old family friend who was nearby. As Mariah knelt over her wounded father, trying to help him, she was shot in the head and left in critical condition with bone fragments in her brain. Prosecutors allege that Parsons-Salas then approached Mercedes Tavares, 24, who was hiding behind a van, and shot her at close range. She died as well.

Mariah's aunt, Rebecca Dejesus, described her as a deeply loving and selfless person. "How loving and kind she was, how giving, how selfless she was for anyone and anything," she said. Dejesus added that Mariah had held on for so long to give her family time to learn to let go — a final act of kindness from a woman whose life was defined by love.

Despite her resilience, doctors have told the family that Mariah’s brain function never returned. Though she occasionally opened her eyes, she remained in a state of critical condition. Her family now faces the emotional and financial burden of her final days. An online fundraiser has been created to help cover the costs of her medical care and funeral, which could add another $20,000 to their already overwhelming expenses.

Meanwhile, Mariah’s loved ones continue to gather at the hospital, offering her the love and support she once gave so freely. Her cousin, Nevaeh Alicia, remembered her as having a “loving aura” and described her as someone who always put others before herself.

The family also shared that the trial for Samuel Parsons-Salas, the suspect in the shooting, was expected to begin soon. However, given the recent developments in Mariah’s condition, they believe the trial may be delayed, potentially leading to increased charges against the accused.

As Mariah’s time draws to a close, her family remains focused on providing her with comfort and dignity in her final moments. They are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community and hope to honor her memory with a meaningful farewell.