Teen girl who performed at Obama inauguration killed in Chicago shooting

Hadiya Pendleton / CBS Chicago

CHICAGO A teenage girl who attended presidential inauguration activities in Washington earlier this month was shot to death at a Chicago park.

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Police say 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was shot in the back Tuesday and later died at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. An unidentified boy was shot in the leg and is being treated at the hospital. No arrests have been made.

Hadiya was a majorette with the King College Prep High School band, which performed at several inaugural events. CBS Chicago affiliate WBBM-TV reports she was also an honor student and volleyball player.

Police say Hadiya was one of about 12 teens under a canopy at a park to avoid the rain when a man jumped a fence, ran toward the group and opened fire. The man fled the scene in an auto. Police say the gunman was not aiming at the girl.

Witnesses told WBBM-TV that shootings are rare in the neighborhood.

"We hardly ... have any crime," said Jennifer West, who lives close to where the incident occurred. "There's been a few break-ins over the past two years since we've been here, but nothing that's ever caused alarm."

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Chicago has experienced a spike in gun violence over the past couple of years, mostly motivated by gang wars. The city's homicide count eclipsed 500 last year for the first time since 2008.

[jarrellkaren]

Everyone needs to listen by Billy Gilman One Voice,,,it says it all....Cause we sure to need help here on earth.....

[jarrellkaren]

Wow would everyone just look at all the comments about guns and where people live. Everyone is So hung up on the gun laws and the NRA that they don't see a real problem. There are so many people or I should have said young adults that think what does it matter what they do cause no one cares anyway. We need to let them know that there is hope. Open your hearts up and stop all this hate within you, and the problems will be easier to fix.
My prayers are with all. May God be with you....

[ajbruno14]

There IS something which might improve the situation....a protest by tens of thousand of city residents to the mayor to strengthen the police protection of resident in violent areas if the city.

Its amazing who little is being done by the many interest groups to end the carnage. If a govt program was ended the masses would be having sit ins.

Yet, for the safety of their children no similar effort has been seen.

Consider who fast Al Sharpton when to NC when Duke students were alleged to rape a young woman, which was a false charge.

About these fatherless children...YES...this is a problem. But, the 'fix' is not immediate...its a long term effort. And, in the short term will not stop the killing.

Redoubling policies in the most dangerous parts of Chicago and other cities can have immediate results...but it appears the politics of arresting so many urban citizens which get a backlash.

[TimeToEvolve]

Reaganomics and the takeover of America by Wall Street has caused massive problems in our society. Giving all the wealth to the top few percent do no good for anyone except the top few percent. The violence, all the guns, the dumb Republicons and the failed education and media systems are all the result of Reaganomics.

[jaw11787]

Never mind flooding Chicago with police, flood the city with fathers! How much do you want to bet the 'gang members' committing 85% of the shootings were raised by "single mothers"? If the "baby daddy"'s name isn't on the birth certificate, then the new mother should be forced to name a preferred prison that their child should be sentenced to WHEN they are sentenced in 18 years.

[judymar14]

Racism is why they don't get rid of gangs in Chicago. Ever notice the part of where Chicago gang-related killings are left out of the media? As if drive-by shootings could be on the far westside/northside and downtown Chicago.

Please read my comment...After living in Chicago for 32 years I know what I am talking about. A gangbanger shooting is on the local news most every day as a by-line except when an innocent is killed. Then the neighborhood is up in arms for the police to do something.

[jarrellkaren]

It's a shame but there is a lot of racism,sad, but if everyone looked at the truth we all bleed the same color.....

[Xthes]

This is such a tragedy. I hope the shooter chokes on his pizza while alone in a room.

[jarrellkaren]

First I want to let the parents know that I am praying for you and your daughter.
This is for. COSMIC998. There is a God and he is there for us anytime. But there is free will that we all have. So the wrongs are all our doing. So don't be afraid to pray.
Everyone is getting caught up in the gun laws. No one is talking about taking away guns at all but read the words everyone one is saying over and over, it sounds like a bunch of adult children fighting over something when it's right in front of you.
Stop making excuses and there will be a right solution that will be made.
GOD BLESS EVERYONE.......

[talis4]

Why no information on the shooter?
No description of the shooter, car or anything?

[Disco1975]

I just noticed that my last comment has been deleted. I guess Obama has his finger on the censorship button.

BUCK OFAMA