CHICAGO, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chicago police believe gang-related violence led to the fatal shooting of an 8-year-old girl Ariana Molina that also left 10 others injured Saturday night in the city’s South Side.
According to police, the shooting took place near 52nd St. and South Damen Ave. at approximately 9:18 p.m. An 8-year-old girl was killed from a gunshot wound to the head, while two boys — 1 and 7 years old — were critically injured after being shot multiple times.
Deputy Police Chief Don Jerome said police aided in response efforts for the other eight victims, ranging in age from 19 to 40, by applying tourniquets and chest seals.
The victims were reportedly standing outside at a family gathering.
A statement released by the Chicago Police Department said a witness saw a black sedan approach the scene when the shots rang out into the crowd. All victims were escorted to local hospitals around the area by the Chicago Fire Department.
“This was not a random act of violence. It was likely gang-related,” Jerome said. “Regardless of the motivation for this incident, three innocent children were struck tonight and one of them tragically succumbed to her wounds. The offenders’ actions, make no mistake, are horrific and unacceptable in our city.”
Area One detectives are still investigating the incident and no arrests have been made.
All except one of the victims appear to be family members. In the hospital remains Molina’s wife, who was shot in the back, along with his daughter’s godfather and two nephews, who were shot several times in the stomach.
The victims have been successfully operated on, the dead girl’s father, Jose Molina said, but his wife still doesn’t know their only daughter is dead as of Sunday afternoon.
“I haven’t told my wife yet because she’s still in a lot of pain of her own,” he said. “I don’t want to give her more pain at the moment.”
Molina said he’s desperately hoping police can find the people responsible for this shooting as he hangs onto the memories he has of his daughter.
“She was the best daughter ever… sweet… she loved to play… she was helpful… she was the best,” he said. — NNN-AGENCIES
