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Death of asthmatic teen who witnessed fatal Chicago shooting ruled a homicide

CHICAGO -- Chicago authorities say the death of a teenage girl who suffered an asthma attack after witnessing a fatal shooting at a block party was a homicide.

Police say a dispute over a parking spot on the South Side led to gunfire last July. Two people were killed and two others injured in the shooting.

Authorities say 16-year-old Jessica Williams witnessed the shooting, suffered an asthma attack and collapsed at the scene. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

"Story Squad" helps young gun violence victims share stories 00:54

Results of a Cook County medical examiner’s autopsy released Thursday shows she died of bronchial asthma and stress associated with gunshots fired into a crowd. The office determined her death was a homicide.

Denzel M. Childs, 25, was shot in the neck, head and chest; and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:20 a.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office, CBS Chicago reported

Kayana Q. Armond, 34, was shot in the neck and was also pronounced dead at the scene at 12:34 a.m., authorities said. 

A 21-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the left hand and was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, while a 25-year-old woman was taken to Stroger Hospital with gunshot wounds to the back. Both of their conditions stabilized, police said.

The block party was in remembrance of Williams’ cousin and was attended by about 100 people.

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