Heaven Sutton Shooting: Jerrell Dorsey charged in 7-year-old's death in Chicago

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

(CBS/AP) CHICAGO - A 26-year-old suspected gang member has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the shooting death of 7-year-old Heaven Sutton who was gunned down while selling snow cones near her house last week.

Police say Jerrell Dorsey of Chicago was taken into custody Friday night and charged early Sunday. He appeared in court later Sunday, where a judge ordered him held without bail.

Heaven Sutton was with her mother Wednesday night when police say someone walked up to another group of people and opened fire down the street. The girl was struck by a stray bullet as she ran away.

According to CBS Chicago, a 19-year-old man was also injured during the shooting, suffering a gunshot wound to his ankle.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Dorsey's lawyer, Eric Dunham, said Dorsey was in the area when the girl was shot but was not the gunman.

The girl's family is accepting donations for Heaven's funeral expenses, CBS Chicago reports. Donations can be made to the Heaven On Earth Fund at any U.S. Bank location.

The station reports that Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office said in a statement Saturday: "No parent should have to endure this type of pain. Bringing Heaven's shooter to justice will not bring her back, but I hope it will provide some level of solace to her family. We cannot lose another innocent child to violence and I will continue to fight to make sure the Chicago Police has (sic) the resources it needs to stop the violence."

More on Crimesider
June 29, 2012 - Heaven Sutton, 7-year-old Chicago girl, fatally shot moments after getting hair styled for trip to Disney World

8 Comments +

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by Martha12345 July 3, 2012 8:15 AM EDT

It seem Rahm isn't doing such a good job.

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by missyfive July 4, 2012 9:50 AM EDT: This goes beyond Rahm. These criminals and thugs are controlling the streets, putting innocent children and adults in harm's way. We're dealing wtih animals who don't give a hoot about innocent children.


by MagnaCartaUK July 3, 2012 2:29 AM EDT: Such things continue until the public stand up and say they've had enough. At that point they'll require the full support of the Police, in much the same way as the Police need the trust of the public. Without either anarchy prevails and no-one wins except the thug and the gun.; Reply to this comment

by linfinster July 2, 2012 7:30 PM EDT

That poor child!!

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by Wildwood1966 July 12, 2012 1:59 PM EDT: another intelligent comment from AndWereBack - oh most of the kids are poor - she is selling lemonade and oh well got hit by a stray bullet - my sympathy goes out to this family