9-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot While Playing With Friends In Chicago
Another shooting occurred in Chicago taking the life of another innocent child. According to the Chicago Tribune, a gunman opened fire into a parking lot, fatally hitting a 9-year-old boy who was playing his with friends.
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The incident occurred Friday evening at the Cabrini Green townhomes. The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the child as Janari Andre Ricks. He was in the 900 block of North Cambridge Avenue when shots were fired around 6:45 p.m. and was hit in the chest, Chicago police Officer Michelle Tannehill said.
The boy was struck “multiple times” in an attack of “senseless violence,” Chief of Operations Brian McDermott added. He was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital and was initially in “very critical” condition. Sadly, he died shortly after. “An unknown offender approached on foot and fired multiple rounds in the direction of the victim and several other bystanders.
A 45-year-old woman happened to be nearby when the incident occurred. She was on her way home from her regular cancer treatments at Northwestern Memorial Hospital when she decided to stop and visit friends and family in the Cabrini Green townhome. While chatting with them, about three to six gunshots rang out. From there, she began running.
“I was just saying hello, and before we knew it, we just heard the gunshots. They just started crying and we all ran,” said the woman, who identified herself as Miss Cooper, according to the news site.
“I started praying.”
“I called police so someone can get the little baby,” Cooper said.
As heartbreaking as that was to see, Cooper, who was raised in that neighborhood, unfortunately suffered from gun violence personally. She said her son was fatally shot.
“I am a mother. My son was shot in the street. I understand,” Cooper said. “I grew up in that area. It’s always something.’”
As of right now, they do not have a detailed description of the shooter or an idea of his motive. “We don’t know who the intended target was,” McDermott said but added,
“Any time a child is a victim of gun violence in the city of Chicago, it greatly saddens and affects us all.” He urged anyone with information to come forward.
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