The father of embattled former Illinois mayor Tiffany Henyard has been shot in Chicago, prompting the politician, infamously dubbed as ‘America’s worst mayor,’ to plead for federal intervention.
Henyard took to social media to confirm that her father, Ronald, was the victim in the shooting, adding in a Facebook statement that she’s ‘deeply saddened to have to address the issue’.
The 65-year-old was shot in the neck in an alley in the 1300 block of South Kedzie Avenue in the city’s North Lawndale neighborhood at around 5.54pm on Wednesday, police said.
He was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he remains in serious condition. No arrests have been made and detectives are investigating.
‘My heart is heavy. Keep my family in your prayers,’ Henyard wrote.
In a longer message signed ‘Super Mayor Tiffany A. Henyard,’ she said he was ‘an innocent victim of this random and heartbreaking violence.’
‘Yesterday, my father, my hero, was an innocent victim of this random and heartbreaking violence,’ Henyard wrote. ‘This tragedy has shaken my family to its core and unfortunately it reflects a reality that too many families across our state are facing.’
She said the shooting ‘further highlights what many of us already know’ about gun violence in Chicago and called for ‘stronger action and meaningful solutions.’
Tiffany Heynard infamously dubbed ‘America’s worst mayor,’ confirmed in a Facebook statement that her father had been shot
Ronald Henyard, 65, was shot in the neck in an alley in the 1300 block of South Kedzie Avenue in the city’s North Lawndale neighborhood at around 5.54pm on Wednesday, police said
Henyard took to social media to confirm that her father, Ronald, was the victim in the shooting, adding in a Facebook statement that she’s ‘deeply saddened to have to address the issue’
Henyard urged Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to ‘seriously reconsider federal assistance’ from President Donald J. Trump.
‘Across the country, communities that have welcomed federal support have experienced measurable reductions in crime,’ she wrote, pointing to Memphis, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans.
She added that Illinois residents ‘deserve to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods’ and argued that greater collaboration between leaders has ‘produced results’ elsewhere.
Her plea marks a shift for the former Democrat, who is now running as a Republican in Georgia after relocating following her time in Illinois politics.
Henyard, 42, served as mayor of Dolton from 2021 to 2025 and also led Thornton Township, dubbing herself ‘super mayor’ while holding both roles.
Current Dolton Mayor Jason House said he was ‘saddened’ by the shooting and offered support to Henyard’s family.
The shooting is the latest development in a string of controversies surrounding Henyard, who has been accused of mismanaging millions in taxpayer funds, racking up lavish spending on town credit cards and presiding over a village that plunged from surplus into deficit.
She lost her re-election bid in a landslide earlier this year, securing just over 12 percent of the vote after a chaotic council meeting brawl.
Heynard is seen smiling widely when she met former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in 2024 at the White House
In February 2025, she lost her re-election battle by a landslide just after she took part in a chaotic brawl at a council meeting
Henyard first drew national attention in 2024 after officials in her administration were served subpoenas from the FBI as part of an alleged corruption probe into city spending and travel. She was never charged.
Her tenure was marked by repeated clashes with critics and allegations of misconduct, fueling a national reputation for combative leadership.
Since leaving office, she has attempted a political rebrand, switching parties and aligning herself with President Donald J. Trump as she launches a new campaign in Georgia.
The Daily Mail has contacted Henyard for comment.