Jun 24, 2009 10:21 pm US/Central
9-Year-Old Girl Shot Dead; 3 Others Wounded
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Chastity Turner, 9, died after she was shot in the neck in the South Side's Hamilton Park neighborhood.
CBS
A 9-year-old girl died Wednesday night after she was shot in the neck in the South Side's Hamilton Park neighborhood. Three men were also wounded in the incident.
According to Area 1 Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson, a green or teal colored van was traveling southbound on the 7400 block of south Stewart at about 6:50 p.m.
Half-way down the block, the van stopped and shots were fired. Three adult males and a 9-year-old girl were struck.
According to family members, 9-year-old Chastity Turner was outside on the front porch washing her dogs with her father when she was shot.
CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports that her family is devastated by her sudden death.
The victim's grandmother, Tanya Turner, says that shootings happen constantly in the neighborhood.
"She told me this morning, she said, 'grandma, I'm going home, it's not safe around here,'" said Chastity's grandmother Tanya Turner. "I said, 'baby, it's not safe no place now.'"
The girl was taken to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital in "extremely critical" condition, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford.
A 31-year-old man was taken to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County with a gunshot wound to his back and a 17-year-old man, also shot in his back, also went to Stroger Hospital.
The girl later died from her wounds. The three males suffered non-life threatening injuries.
A vehicle that may have been involved has been recovered, Patterson said.
Police surmise that the shooting may be gang-related, but they say it is too early to make that determination.
Chastity's family says the third-grader enjoyed jumping rope and riding her bike.
Police are reviewing video surveillance from the area to try to gather more information on the possible offenders.
They are also asking for help from the community. If anyone has information, they are asked to call Area 1 Detectives at (312) 747-8380.
CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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