As of Sunday morning in Chicago, a 7-year-old girl is dead after being stabbed on a sidewalk in the Chatham neighborhood, and a woman is in police custody. Police have not announced charges or a motive.
What police and the medical examiner have said
The attack happened just before noon Saturday, Oct. 3 (about 11:55 a.m., per ABC7), in the 8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue. Police said the girl was walking southbound when an adult woman approached her, displayed a sharp object and stabbed her multiple times in the back.
She was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as Hernandez Chacon. Outlets spell her first name Edimari (ABC7), Edi Mari (NBC Chicago and the Sun-Times) and Edi Marie (CBS Chicago).
Police said bystanders who witnessed the stabbing detained the woman. Police said she was injured and was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. She is in police custody. The Sun-Times reported that she had not been identified.
NBC Chicago, describing surveillance video it obtained, wrote that witnesses “could be seen rushing over to what is assumed to be the area where the young girl was attacked.” According to CBS Chicago, detectives closed off the area for hours while they collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.
Ald. Michelle Harris of the 8th Ward released a statement, which ABC7 printed. In part, she said she was “deeply saddened” and wanted to “recognize and thank the bystanders who quickly intervened—helping to detain the suspect and get assistance on the way.” She also wrote: “I urge anyone with information to contact the Chicago Police Department.” Harris’s statement also directed people with additional information or concerns to call 773-874-3300, ABC7 reported; ABC7 did not say whose line it is.
What is not known yet
- Motive. Police have not said what the motive was. NBC Chicago wrote: “It was not immediately known what, if anything, prompted the attack.”
Where reports differ
- Neighborhood: ABC7 and the Sun-Times say Chatham. NBC Chicago and CBS Chicago say East Chatham.
- Detectives: ABC7 says Area Two detectives are investigating. CBS Chicago says Calumet Area detectives. The Sun-Times says only that detectives are investigating.
- Whether the two knew each other: NBC Chicago (Oct. 3 evening) wrote that the girl was approached by “a woman who did not know her … police said.” ABC7 and CBS Chicago, in Oct. 4 updates, wrote that police have not said whether they knew each other.
What we did not find
We did not find a Chicago police statement on charges; ABC7 reported that “Charges are pending.” We did not find an official page naming the girl, so the spelling of her name is unresolved. We did not find a statement from her family.