Waukegan Volleyball Coach, School Counselor Dies In Shooting: Police

WAUKEGAN, IL — A 23-year-old Waukegan woman who worked as a high school volleyball coach and school counselor died after being shot over the weekend, school officials and police said.

School officials on Monday announced the unexpected passing of Niolis Collazo, who was an assistant boys’ volleyball coach at Waukegan High School. She also was a counselor with Youth Guidance’s Working On Womanhood program, where she worked with young ladies at Smith Middle School, a district spokesperson said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Collazo's friends, family, and colleagues during this time," school officials said

Grief counselors were being made available to students and staff at Waukegan High School’s Washington and Brookside campuses, as well as at Smith Middle School, officials said.

Police said they responded to a shooting around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday at 10th Street and Lewis Avenue in Waukegan. Police said they found several shell casings on the street near a white sedan.

Police did not release further details about the incident and did not say if anyone is in custody.

In an email on Sunday, Waukegan High School Athletic Director Colette Erbach alerted parents of Collazo’s death.

"I am sending this email to all of you with an extremely heavy heart and huge sadness,” Erbach wrote in the email.

A GoFundMe fundraising effort has been started to help with Collazo's funeral expenses. As of Monday afternoon, the effort has raised more than $4,700 toward a $25,00o goal.