Chicago police revealed that a mass shooting, which occurred on Saturday, April 13, 2024, left a child dead and at least ten injured. According to police, those injured include a 1-year-old and an 8-year-old, when gunfire broke out at a family gathering in Chicago.
Officials are yet to arrest suspects in the mass shooting that erupted on the city’s South Side. However, they are asking for the public’s help in identifying those who might be responsible for the shooting. According to Deputy Chief Don Jerome, the shooting was likely gang-related.
“This was not a random act of violence,” Jerome said during a news conference Saturday night. “Regardless of the motivation for this incident, three innocent children were struck tonight, and one of them tragically succumbed to her wounds.”
The slain victim’s father identified her as 9-year-old Ariana Molina. Police said the suspects shot the young girl in the head. Following the shooting, officials rushed her to Comer Children’s Hospital, where health practitioners pronounced her dead, police said.
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The dead girl’s father, Jose Molina, told ABC News that the shooting also left him and his wife with wounds. While Jose’s wife remains hospitalized with a bullet wound to the back, he reportedly suffered wounds to his feet. The man said his daughter was “wonderful and helpful and was everything to him.”
According to police, the shooting unfolded during a large family outdoor gathering in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Witnesses told police that around 9:18 p.m., a black sedan pulled up to the event. They claimed occupants of the sedan opened fire on the crowd without warning.
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Although an investigation into the shooting is ongoing, police suspect there were likely two shooters responsible for the carnage. “The offenders’ actions, make no mistake, are horrific and unacceptable in our city,” Jerome said. Sources say officials went to the scene after a ShotSpotter alert detected 18 gunshot rounds at the location.
On arrival, officers found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds and started performing lifesaving measures. At least three people were in critical condition, including the 1-year-old and 8-year-old boys, police said.
Police reports say the suspects shot both children in the abdomen, and they are receiving treatment at Comer Children’s Hospital. A 36-year-old man who suffered two gunshot wounds to the back was also in critical condition. Police say he is at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
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Furthermore, officials say the other victims ranged from ages 19-40. Following the tragic incident, Chicago Rep. Stephanie Coleman, who represents Chicago’s 16th Ward where the shooting occurred, released a statement. In his statement on Sunday, April 14, 2024, he described the shooting as “a cowardly crime.”
“The Back of the Yards community is united in our grief,” Coleman said. “Prayers and collective mindset that we must continue to stand firm against these senseless acts of physical force.” Coleman continued, “Violence is a citywide issue that continues to falsely characterize the true essence and intrinsic nature of our neighborhoods.”
“This tragedy has left us all heartbroken and distressed,” Coleman added.
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