6-month-old shot 5 times in Chicago, dies

Mar 12, 2013 - 06:16
Mar 13, 2013 - 02:35
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6-month-old shot 5 times in Chicago, dies
6-month-old Chicago girl dies after being shot 5 times

A 6-month-old Chicago girl who was shot five times while her father was changing her diaper died of her wounds Tuesday, authorities said.

Jonylah Watkins died at Comer Children's Hospital, where she underwent surgery following Monday afteoon's attack, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said. Her father, Jonathan Watkins, was also wounded and remained in critical condition at Northweste Memorial Hospital.

Police on Tuesday were scouring the South Side neighborhood of Woodlawn, where the attack happened, for security camera footage or any other clues as to who carried out the attack.

Jonylah Watkins was shot five times as father Jonathan, pictured, changed her diaper. The baby survived a separate shooting on her mother Judy when she was still in the womb

Murdered: Jonylah Watkins was shot five times as her father Jonathan changed her diaper. She survived a separate shooting of her mother Judy when she was still in the womb

Tragedy: Jonylah 's murder has shocked Chicago - a city where gun violence in some neighborhoods has become routine

Tragedy: Jonylah 's murder has shocked Chicago - a city where gun violence in some neighborhoods has become routine

Witnesses said the gunman approached Jonathan Watkins at around 1 p.m. and opened fire on him while he was standing beside his minivan and changing his daughter's diaper. She was on the front seat.

Jonathan Watkins was shot in the side and buttocks, and suffered a graze wound to his face. Jonylah was shot five times, in the thigh, shoulder, lung, liver and bowels, the family said.

It wasn't the family's first brush with Chicago's gun violence. The girl's mother, Judy Watkins, was shot in the knee while she was pregnant with Jonylah, according to the woman's mother, Mary Young.

Violence: Mr Watkins was changing his daughter's diaper in the passenger seat of his van when a gunman walked up behind him in broad daylight and opened fire

Violence: Mr Watkins was changing his daughter's diaper in the passenger seat of his van when a gunman walked up behind him in broad daylight and opened fire

Horrified: Jonylah's mother Judy Watkins, 20, was at work at McDonald's when she shooting happened. She was shot and wounded when her daughter was still in the womb

Horrified: Jonylah's mother Judy Watkins, 20, was at work at McDonald's when she shooting happened. She was shot and wounded when her daughter was still in the womb

"There's too much shooting over there," Young told reporters Monday. Speaking of her granddaughter, she added, "She's nothing but 6 months old. How could anybody -- what kind of heart?"

Chicago has seen a recent rise in gun violence -- much of it gang-related -- and registered at least 500 homicides last year for the first time since 2008. In 2011, there were 435 homicides.

Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy told reporters Monday that homicides were down 26 percent this year, compared with the same period a year earlier. He was expected to give an update on the latest attack later Tuesday.

 

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Mike Gallagher Freelance writer with a passion for travelling