Chicago girl jumping rope shot dead
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Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer
An 8-year-old girl, in Chicago, who was jumping rope with a playmate was shot to death by unknown gunmen who opened fire from their bicycles, authorities said. The other girl, who is 7, was grazed in the head by a bullet and is listed in fair condition at a local hospital, police said. Published reports identified the injured girl as the victim’s cousin.
The incident happened Tuesday shortly before 8pm in the south side of the city, investigators said. Officer Robert Perez, a spokesman for the Chicago Police, told CNN two African-American men riding on bikes approached the girls who were jumping rope on the porch of a home.
“We don’t know who or what the target was,” Perez told CNN, “that hasn’t been determined.” Police said they did not know if the shooting was gang related. Detectives “are looking at all possible leads and they do not have anyone arrested for the incident and they are still interviewing witnesses,” Perez said.
The girl who was killed was in the 3rd grade at Kohn Elementary School, said Chicago schools spokeswoman Monique Bond.
The shooting comes just two days after the Chicago Police announced that murders were down 1.5% in July after a 4-month increase.
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Filed under: Crime & Punishment • Gabe Falcon |
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Hear, hear I second that Laura thats why CNN is # 2 in news
Rest well sweetie. 🙁
Knock, knock Erica, guns are bought on the street for a few bucks and obviously no background check. You think the 2 juveniles (I'm assuming they are in their teens because they were on bikes) bought them for several hundred dollars at a gun shop? That is a laugh.
why is it always blacks that do this?
there are a lot of countries around the world where guns are banned,and it has never stopped criminals from getting guns or most any weapon..i'm glad i can legally carry a sweet .45 by my side if i like. too many crazy people out running loose when they should have never let them out to start with!!
Shanti, In China they have effective gun control laws, and crazy people break into schools and murder children with knives. You can't eliminate every possible weapon in the world. You can't criminal-proof our world like you would baby-proof a house. You can only lock up the criminals when they act, hopefully before they murder.
We need law enforcement, not gun control, Because Chicago already has gun control, and it clearly doesn't work. God bless the little girl.
I feel for the family... For all who think guns should be banned. You are all nuts..... You all wanna give the crooks the upper hand? Think about it. Oh, wait... We have "Superman" flying around saving us.... Wake up, silly people........
You foolish people who advocate gun control. Shame on you for being so deluded. It is not gun control, or removal of guns from society that is the answer, it is a fundamental change in society that shifts a careless and las a fair attitude about killing to a respect for life that is laking in most cities. Coming from a farming/country/hunting background I can assure you that people who grow up harvesting animals for their food, wether they are cows, sheep, pigs, deer, raccoon, or grow a garden for the produce don't have such a careless attitude about taking a life nor blatant disrespect for the lives around them. These animals on bicycles who shot these kids have no respect for life, and never will. I am sorry that this little child lost her life, but it was more societies fault and the inner city culture of violence without respect for life than it was for the bullet that was launched by this loser animal that pointed the gun.
Frondo.
Why do so many of you take comfort in wrapping yourselves in the Second Amendment? Do you really think that's the only thing standing between you and complete lawlessness? No one wants to take away your right to bear arms in a lawful way, but something's got to give. We have to find some common ground. If we don't, too much of this senseless, mindless killing will continue.
An absolute tragedy, but why is everyone blaming the guns, instead of the punks, who clearly do not care about what is legal and what is not. Doesn't Chicago have some of the toughest gun laws in the country? I have been to the south side of Chicago and my guess is the law abiding citizens don't have them and the thugs rule the streets. My heart goes out to the family for this senselessness, but lets place the blame where it belongs, on the thugs that did it, give them a firing squad of thier own!!
If only hand guns were banned in chicago. Oh wait they were untill a few weeks ago.
@Erica & Matt
Do you honestly believe a gun ban will make a difference?
Good thing drugs are illegal otherwise we would have a serious drug problem in this country. Pass a law and the problem goes away, right?
Bad people do bad things.
Am I the only one to notice that the economy is so bad, that gang bangers had to do a drive-by on bicycles? But seriously, gun control doesn't work because the guns are already out there. Even if there was an immediate nationwide outlawing of guns, it would create an instant blackmarket of gun trafficking. Would "tougher" laws work, no. There is very little correlation between crime and the punishment imposed. Just look at the states with the death penalty. Their murder rates are no different than other states.
The bottom line: We as a people want the freedom to own guns. Then we have to accept the consequences.
Chances are these guys would be proud to go to jail or back to jail. It just gives them street credit. I see guys where I live congregating on street corners with their jail wrist band still on proud of where they were. They don't bother cutting them off. What's jail to a person when your probably going to meet friends and family there if you go. Bad is good to them, and much of the music these days, I said much of the music seems to amp them up to be the thugs they are. It's ironic though when they get shot and killed their mother's standing next to the casket with a high school picture telling everyone what a good kid they were, never caused any trouble.
If you ban guns, the number of gun-related murders will go down. If you ban automobiles, the number of fatal car accidents will go down. And if were you ban alcohol & tobacco, the number of DUI related fatalities, deaths by liver disease, terminal lung cancer occurrences and assaults/thefts related to these vices would also decrease...etc, etc, etc.
The U.S. Constitution protects only one of these freedoms and it was fundamental in the formation of this country. If you don't like it, see if you can get your congressman to try to amend the Bill of Rights. I wish you the best of luck, you're gonna need it. Meanwhile, while we live in a land of guns, I won't be the only person left without one.
Lost Cause Heather they will NEVER touch the 2nd amendment. Ever.
Lets see te southside of Chicago, no doubt 2 black punks shooting 2 black little girls. Instead of people harping on guns why not ask where these completely misguided kids come from, where are the parents?
Why won't they do some time for this. I'll bet single parent and maybe moms laying out with the pipe and with another babies daddy in the government subsidised apartment. Yeah its the guns.
Any word on what well regulated militia was sending shooters out on bicycles in the area?
For all you whiners out there using a tragic accident to advocate gun control: you are absolute morons and using the typical M.O of using what is nothing more than an accident to parlay your flawed logic. Studies have proven time and time again that stricter gun control laws DO NOT reduce firearm based crimes, it simply reduces the methods of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves, and areas where citizes are allowed Concealed Carry and are able to defend themselves see lower crime rates.
That's a fact, deal with it.
Just about everyone on here is saying either give everyone a gun, or take them all away. I say it doesn't matter wether there are guns or not it takes a sick individual to do something like this, and they are gonna do it reguardless of what weapons are on hand. My prayers go out to the family.
Yeah brilliant idea making guns harder to get. Since we should be fair and equal I suppose that means we should make it twice as hard for a black to get a gun, since they somehow make up the majority of gun crimes while being a minority of the population. America has the highest prisoner population in the world already despite only having 5% of the worlds population. We've got nearly 1/4 of the worlds prisoners. Trying to control or modify behavior through legislation does not work.
1. This must be a lie. Guns are illegal in Chicago.
2. Can't be true, Chicago is a fine community with nothing but literate upstanding citizens who love each other. Thanks to the community organizers, of course.
3. When is a certain American community going to look at itself and CURE this nightmare?
"What kind of a world do we live in when a kid gets shot?"
As a Canadian, I think the US needs some form of gun control. Maybe not to the extent of the Canadian Gun Registry (way too costly), but I don't think it should be written in stone that every citizen has the right to bear arms. Carrying a gun should be looked at as a privilege (for responsible use) not as a right.
I was sad to see today that a Texan couple was arrested at the border in New Brunswick and was ordered to pay $1500 or serve 60 days in jail because they had a revolver in their RV (handguns are considered Restricted here). They obviously paid, and the judge was very sympathetic, but laws are laws. Not everyone can just walk around with a revolver here. Getting a license to own a hand gun in Canada requires going thru a lot of tests and paperwork. Rifles and Shotguns are quite easy to get (still need to do a test and fill out paperwork though).
Jim is right. We all sit on here and boo hoo about how sad this is and everyone has an opinion on the cure. But, come the weekend, we're all standing in line to see the latest violence flick or wooing over the thug sports stars and musicians we so idolize. We're such hipocrites. Quit supporting this type of behavior with your dollars if you're against it.
Meanwhile, there's no disincentive to these thugs for doing this. Jail doesn't scare them. Death row doesn't scare them. Maybe its time to rethink "cruel and unusual punishment".
Stupid thugs and wankers, have to go around and ruin it for every other person who owns a gun that DOESN'T go around shooting at innoncent people. You think you're all so untouchable, but your arrogance and ignorance will catch up to you one day. You're so hardcore, shooting little kids. Idiots.
I wonder if the 2 little girls are White.. why don't they mention that? they mentioned the men where African decendants... what what about reverse racism here? Where the little girls white? Why not mention that CNN? my god
Gun control please. Yeah GB has lower gun related issues (x4) than the US, but they have a higher rate crime than we do. I bet when the perps are caught you find things like, no parental supervision, a history of crime for themselves and a family history of crime; and yet they all are still on the street. We need tougher crime laws, more enforced with prosecution, and more prisons.
it seems rival gangs are tageting each others kids it happens alot here in chicago.its sad they are such cowards
This happens all the time in Chicago.. very sad. Every morning while I watch the news, its the same thing.... The only way your going to stop the killing is have Troops on the streets, CPD can not handle it, the south side is like a war zone, and it needs to be treated as one.
@ Erica, Do you really think that gun was legally obtained? If so, you are delusional. Let's outlaw cars they kill people, so do knives and Draino and hey while we are at it let's outlaw toothbrushes because those can be turned into shivs and used as a weapon. Stop blaming objects and start blaming the person(s) guilty of the crime.
The penalties for crimes like this should be enhanced to be sure the criminals do not ever walk the streets again; and if they are juvenilles, the parents need to be held responsible.
You people talking about getting rid of guns are idiots. The people who are killing are not using legal guns. If we are told we have to get rid of our guns, only those who kill will still have guns. You need to get rid of those who kill. And what color were the killers? Yea I know, I'm a racist. You have no other solutions other than I'm a racist. How is it that 12 yr old black kids have guns and shooting polple? Yea, that's what I thought.
Erica... its already difficult to an extent if you've proven yourself to be a criminal. I'm sorry the 2nd amendment will remain, there is nothing anyone can do about it.... ever and if someone attempted there will be a civil war (trust me). When you buy gun's privately there is no background checks because it is person to person. If an avg Joe purchases a gun at a "Gun Store", they will run his/her SSN on ATF and criminal searches... there is nothing stopping him or her from selling it to whomever they wish. I own a Glock 17 and Cz 75 9mm and .45 hi-point 995 Assault Carbine and I got tons of ammo, I got my weapons in a 15 minute federal and local check. I have a concealed weapons permit, I like to strap the CZ on my chest when jogging at 2am in the night streets.
Tired of hearing people say "what's this world coming too"
I lived in the USA and married an American girl. Her dad kept a gun
in his night stand next to the bed. My brother in law keeps several guns in his bedroom and his son owns several assault rifles. I now live in Canada and I don't know anyone who keps guns in their bedroom or owns an assault rifle. A friend of mine biked across the USA and carried a gun. When he crossed the border from Minnesota into Canada he mailed his handgun to a location in NY where he would cross back into the USA. Sound like the Canadians are a lot more free living without fear. Something American will never experience. Please don't blame the world.....it's only in America where true freedom is rare.
What happens if your ordinary citizen is denied of owning a gun and criminals can get them freely? I believe gun control is perpetuated by criminals so society can lay defenseless while they loot and kill. Guns don't kill.. people do. It's a sad time when the innocents are being sacrificed. These thugs should be hanged high for all to see!
Wayne LaPierre, NRA : Keep selling those guns.
Guns are bad but big business. Wrong side wins
If the knowledge of firearms vanished today and guns replaced with swords tonight, would the same people become victims tomorrow? Don't blame the tool, blame the mind that made it work.
For those that simply want to blame guns, let me remind you that 5 are dead and another 12 injured from a serial killer in Michigan. His weapon? A knife.
A twisted, demented mind is going to find a way to kill if that is their intention.
This is horrible.
As a staunch conservative in Tuscon Arizona, and by default a staunch defender of states' rights, I feel it is my duty to dictate to the people who have to live in Chicago every day what they have to do concerning gun control. If that includes using sketchy logic and ambiguous interpretations of a one-line, 250 year old Amendment to dictate their policy then so be it.
If you stopped all gun sales today what do you want to do about the millions of guns already available? If we stopped all auto sales we'd still have DUI drivers. The problem are the folks who think that violence is the ONLY way. This they were taught at the earliest of ages. I am not versed in mental health so the only way I know is to incarcerate them for as long as possible or execute them. Removal from the streets will safeguard others. Gun sales are for legitimate citizens who do not use them to violate any laws. Criminals obtain weapons by illegal means and are not concerned with the laws your Mayor Daley feels are so useful.
Guns are illegal in Chicago. Guns are illegal in the country of Mexico. Says so on the sign leaving El Paso into Mexico. Doesn't seem that outlawing guns stop the violence.
How much you want to bet that the murderers dressed and acted like thugs recognizable from 100 feet away? Yet the cops are prohibited from harassing them lest it be called racial profiling. I don't care what race you are, scum is scum, and cops should harass them every damn day until they catch them with something to lock them away. Now who wants to bet the murderers had prior juvi records?
As for banning guns, it would be more effective to ban the bikes. At least cops can enforce a bike ban. The gun control proponents all believe if you remove the tool, then scum will all magically be prevented from doing harm, like de-clawing a cat. Its almost like they believe mankind never murdered anyone before the invention of the gun. You don't go after the tool, you go after the fool.
Yes we must have gun control because I'm sure the 2 thugs that shot the girls went to a gunstore and lawfully bought the weapons with their hard-earned drug money. You gun control nuts really make no sense whatsoever. Take away the guns from the lawful, fine. Tell me how you're going to take the guns away from the UNLAWFUL?! I swear, you people must have peanuts for brains.
Matt, you are as dumb as you can get, unless you are a man of color.
How come this never happens in my neighborhood or any other WHITE neighborhoods?
Why should we, law abiding citizens, be punished because genetic garbage cannot and will not assimilate into civilized world?
I live in Chicago and it has been such a disgrace that the murder rate keeps rising in this city every year. Gun control means nothing to the gang bangers who will get these guns and kill other people, including kids, for stupid reasons or because of gang retaliation. One thing I will note though, most of Chicago's gun crimes happen in a 5 mile radius on the south side of the city, yet the whole city has to suffer the embarrasment of those areas. Chicago is a great city and will continue to be a great city. We just need to find a way to control the crime every summer, on the south side especially.
bet if you ask the NRA for a comment you would get the same comment that they made after the columbine massacre –"you can not have my guns." that is right–not , "oh my God those poor children–how awful." no their concern was for their guns–no concern for the kids that were murdered. these people and their mind set are enablers to the killers who enjoy their murdering. these shooters get younger every year. they do not value life–do not fear , much less love or respect for God or parent. how corrupt must we become before we try the
golden rule . ?
two African-American men riding on bikes
I'm 99% sure that she was not shot by someone who legally owned the gun. Especially given the fact that it is very difficult to do so in the city of Chicago. Gun control laws never stop criminals who intend to kill – why would anyone willing to commit murder be deterred from committing a lesser crime like illegal possession of a firearm?