The family of a 9-year-old girl killed in a shooting spree has identified her, saying she was a "sweet and loving princess" and that they were trying to "get out" of the neighborhood when the tragic incident took place.
A shooter approached in a black sedan and opened fire against people standing outside at a family gathering before fleeing, according to the police. The tragic incident happened in a Chicago neighborhood on the city's South Side on Saturday, April 13, at around 9pm local time.
Ariana Molina, 9, who was shot in the head, was the only fatality among eleven people injured, in what police believe was "not a random act of violence" but "likely gang-related." The child's devastated family held a small memorial with a cross, pink balloons and votive candles outside the property on Sunday.
READ MORE: Chicago shooting: 7-year-old girl killed and 7 others wounded as attackers open fire on family
The girl's grieving father, Jose Molina, told WLS : "She was the best daughter ever... sweet... she loved to play... she was helpful... she was the best. [...] We were working on buying a house to get out of here because of this, and now it's too late. My daughter is not here no more."
Mr Molina described the dramatic moments he went through: "We were about to cut the cake when they started shooting from nowhere. They had some big assault rifles, I guess, because it was too many shots... they shot my daughter in the head... my wife in the back... me in my leg... my two nephews and a couple more family members.
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"At first I thought it was fireworks, but when I saw my daughter lying down on the floor with a bullet in the head, I realized it wasn't fireworks. I tried helping her but it was too late... I haven't told my wife yet because she's still in a lot of pain of her own," he said. "I don't want to give her more pain at the moment."
Ariana's aunt, Alejandra Velasquez, told the Chicago Sun-Times : "It's hard to see her a few minutes before playing with my son. And then to see her on the floor not responding. It just came out of nowhere. She was so sweet and loving. She was the princess of the family." The girl's grieving grandmother said: "The people who did this did not have a heart, they hurt innocent people."
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Department Deputy Chief Don Jerome said in a press conference Sunday: "This was not a random act of violence. It was likely gang-related. The offenders’ actions, make no mistake, are horrific and unacceptable in our city." Police responding to a gunfire alert applied tourniquets and chest seals to victims, who also included adults between the ages of 19 and 40, Jerome said.
Four of the 11 victims in the shooting were children, of which a 1-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy were shot multiple times and listed in critical condition. A 9-year-old boy was also injured with a graze wound to his finger and hospitalized. A 36-year-old man who was shot in the arms and back was listed in critical condition. The other adults were listed in good condition, police said.
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