Oct 17, 2007 9:02 pm US/Central
10-Year-Old Killed In South Side Crossfire
Boy Caught In Apparent Gang Shooting
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Candles, stuffed animals and cards marked the spot Wednesday night were 10-year-old Arthur Jones fell after being shot in crossfire on the South Side.
CBS
A 10-year-old boy's life was cut short Wednesday evening when he was caught in crossfire on the South Side.
The shooting occurred near the corner of Halsted Street and Garfield Boulevard. As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, police are looking into whether the incident was related to an earlier disturbance near the scene of the shooting.
The victim's family is now struggling to understand why the little boy, A.J., was taken away from them.
"One of my nine babies," said Rita Perez Wednesday night. "I'm hurtin' real bad, but I know that justice is going to be served."
The victim, Arthur Jones, was walking home from Oliver Holmes Elementary School. Police say he may have been killed in gang crossfire at 55th and Halsted streets.
His family says the fifth grader was shot three times. His mother shared with CBS 2 her final conversation with her son before he was rushed to the hospital.
"I just called his name and told him I loved him," Perez said. "He looked at me and I knew that it wasn't going to be OK."
A memorial with candles lit in vigil and stuffed animals and cards marks the spot where Arthur fell after gunfire erupted.
A bullet hit the window of a nearby currency exchange. Police recovered shell casings from behind the business. Detectives are also going over security camera video footage from another nearby business, hoping it will lead to the boy's killer.
"Please put the guns down," Perez said. "And put God in our lives."
Arthur's family said he loved singing in the church choir and loved school.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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