A 7-year old girl was killed in gang crossfire Wednesday night on the West Side. She was outside her house at about 10:40 p.m. selling candy when shots were fired.
The mother of 7-year old Heaven Sutton had set up a tent and some tables to sell candy and snow cones so children wouldn't have to walk to stores in this area, which police and residents said is plagued with shootings.
"You're a coward!" said Ashake Banks, Heaven's mother. "You're a baby thief! I just want you to turn yourself in. You took her life, so it's time for you to do life."
Heaven loved working in her makeshift candy store and was right beside her mother when shots were fired. She did what she had been told, she ran inside. She had been shot in the back.
Police combed the neighborhood Wednesday night and Thursday, looking for two suspects: men ages 18-25.
A source said they've been tracking two active gangs in the neighborhood. A source also said police have been given a name and they followed up on that lead.
The Leaders Network, a group of West Side ministers, led a prayer circle at the scene of the shooting. The candy store has been turned into a memorial.
"It's a horrible time in our community when a child has to dodge bullets as if she's in a war zone," said Pastor Ira Acree.
Many neighbors wept as they tied balloons to trees and fences and laid flowers at the scene. They said Heaven was a treasure of a girl. She was to start second grade in the fall.
Heaven recently had asked her mother to move the family away from the neighborhood because of frequent gunfire.
Heaven's mother Ashake Banks said she won't rest until the shooter is in jail.
Pastors will join the family Thursday night at the corner of North Ave. and Central to announce a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. A trust fund is being set up for the family.
A 19-year old male also was shot and wounded. The family said they do not know his identity.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:26 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:26:50 GMT
Police are asking for help to identify the body of woman or teen girl found strangled and badly burned in a Northwest Side Avondale neighborhood Dumpster Sunday night.
Police are asking for help to identify the body of woman or teen girl found strangled and badly burned in a Northwest Side Avondale neighborhood Dumpster Sunday night.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:18:32 GMT
Search-and-rescue crews worked through the night after a tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs. At least 24 people were killed, including nine children. Those numbers were expected to climb.
Search-and-rescue crews worked through the night after a tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs. At least 24 people were killed, including nine children. Those numbers were expected to climb.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:45 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:45:21 GMT
Every time a tornado makes news, the local public cannot help but think about what happened in this area, back in 1967. A destructive storm system hit the southwest suburbs 46 years ago.
Every time a tornado makes news, the local public cannot help but think about what happened in this area, back in 1967. A destructive storm system hit the southwest suburbs 46 years ago.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:33:23 GMT
A Merrillville police officer shot a man Monday afternoon when the two got into a fight in the parking lot of the Merrillville Planned Parenthood office.
A Merrillville police officer shot a man Monday afternoon when the two got into a fight in the parking lot of the Merrillville Planned Parenthood office.
205 N. Michigan Avenue Ground Floor Chicago, IL 60601
