The Waukegan community and school system Monday were mourning the death of a promising school counselor and coach killed in a weekend shooting that the city’s mayor said has left her “livid and outraged.”

Waukegan police said Niolis Collazo, 23, of Waukegan, was fatally shot at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday as she drove near the intersection of 10th Street and Lewis Avenue. A second vehicle was also hit by gunfire, but the driver was not injured, police said.

Collazo, 23, was the freshman boys’ volleyball coach at her alma mater, Waukegan High School, where she was a standout player and a 2018 graduate. In February, she started her first job out of college, working for a counseling company that works with Waukegan School District 60 students, especially girls.

“This weekend, Waukegan was home to tragedy,” Mayor Ann Taylor said in a statement Monday afternoon. “As a Waukegan resident and as mayor, I am livid, and I am outraged. While we don’t know the details of how Ms. Collazo became the victim of gun violence in our hometown, I do know that this senseless and stupid use of guns on our streets must end.”

Her stepfather, Terry Joiner, described Collazo as someone who was naturally suited to working as a counselor.

“If you needed someone to listen, she was there. She was always willing to listen; always willing to give advice,” Joiner said Monday. “She was the shoulder her friends could lean on.”

Collazo had been out to dinner with friends Saturday night, he said, and was on her way back to the family home. Collazo was talking on the phone with her young sister when Collazo suddenly said, “Ow! Ow! Ow!” and call ended, Joiner said.

Joiner and Collazo’s sister tried calling her for several hours until police detectives came to the home early Sunday to tell them that Collazo had died. Police continue to investigate the shooting. Joiner said his stepdaughter may have been caught inadvertently in a crossfire.

Joiner said his wife had moved here from Puerto Rico, seeking a better life, when Collazo and her older brother were small children. Collazo, he said, was a positive, happy person who loved playing volleyball, and played two years in college before injuries ended her playing career.

She graduated from college in December, and started working for Youth Guidance in February. She had been active in a program called WOW — Working on Womanhood — mentoring and guiding middle school girls at Smith Elementary.

“Her dream was to work with young people and to help them stay positive and make good decisions, especially girls,” Joiner said.

Joiner recalled a conversation he had with Collazo several months ago. They spoke about how her dreams were coming true, and the stars were beginning to line up for her, he said.

On Monday, School District 60 emailed teachers and parents, alerting them that Collazo had died, though not including details of the violent nature of her death. The district is making counselors available, and urging parents to check in with their children to make sure they are OK.

Waukegan police are asking anyone with information to call the department tip line at (847) 360-9001, the police department TIP APP by texting 847411, using the keyword WPDTIP, or by calling the Lake County Crime Stoppers at (847) 662-2222.

Steve Sadin and Gavin Good contributed to this report.