13-year-old Lavel Winslow found shot, killed on park bench in West Ridge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 13-year-old boy has died after he was shot in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood. It's the latest in a string of violent crimes with underaged victims.
As CBS 2's Shardaa Gray reports, family members say they're struggling to wrap their minds around the death of 13-year-old Lavel Winslow.
According to the Chicago Police Department, the boy was found just before 10 Friday night at Lerner Park in the 7000 block of North Sacramento Avenue. Police said the victim, later identified as Lavel by the Medical Examiner's Office, was found on a bench with a gunshot wound to the head.
A nearby witness told police there was a loud noise, followed by several people running from the scene on foot. The witness called police after noticing Lavel injured on the bench with a gunshot wound to the head.
Lavel was rushed to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead.
This is the latest incident in a disturbing trend. Chicago Police say from Jan. 1 to Oct. 2 this year, 289 children 17 and younger have been shot and 44 have been murdered.
This year, 70 kids age 15 and under have come through the emergency room doors at Comer Children's Hospital with gunshot wounds.
Nyzireya Moore was shot and killed on her birthday in March. She had just turned 12 when that celebration was cut short in West Englewood.
Five-month-old Cecilia Thomas died in a drive-by shooting in South Shore in June.
In September, five-year-old Devin McGregor had just started kindergarten when someone shot him in the North of Howard section of Rogers Park. He died a few days later.
Three-year-old Mateo Zastro was shot while riding in the back seat of a vehicle in the West Lawn community on Sept. 30.
He died after someone fired in an apparent road rage incident.
And then on Oct. 2, 7-year-old Legend Barr was shot in his leg on his way to church with family in Roseland. He survived.
Chicago police say Lavel's homicide is still under investigation.
Family members said they're praying the person who shot the 13-year-old will be caught.
