Gang War Behind Shooting That Injured 6-Year-Old Girl: Prosecutors
(CBS) – A six-year-old Chicago girl is doing better after being shot earlier this week in a drive-by shooting in the Logan Square neighborhood.
"The bullet is still close to her heart," says Maricel Melendez.
Her granddaughter, Jaylene Bermeo, was shot in the back Monday while playing in front of her aunt's home.
Twelve shots were fired as Bermeo, two siblings and cousins drew with chalk, on a sidewalk.
While the resilient 6-year-old gives a thumbs up to the camera from her hospital bed, a 17-year-old prosecutors say was involved in the shooting appeared in juvenile court today.
Clad in a navy blue jumpsuit, the teen showed no emotion. Prosecutors say the teen was identified by witnesses as the driver of the car in the drive-by shooting.
"We're going to do our own investigation. We're going to see what, if any, other witnesses, saw anything and we'll go from there," the suspect's defense attorney, Kevin McCubbin, said.
The teen has several prior arrests and is a documented gang member. Prosecutors say the teen's gang has been at war with a rival gang in the community.
"It's an unfortunate incident, but that doesn't mean he's responsible for it," McCubbin said.
The child's grandmother had this to say about the teen in custody: "I don't have any anger towards him. I just want this to stop, because my granddaughter survived this, and not a lot of kids do."