Chicago Teen Gunned Down Days After Performing at Obama's Inauguration Ceremony
An honor student from one of Chicago's top schools who had just performed at President Obama's second inauguration ceremony last week was killed yesterday after being caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting.
15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, a majorette in the King College Prep Marching Band and Drill Team, had been released from school early after finishing an exam, and was hanging out in nearby Vivian Gordon Harsh Park with about a dozen teenagers who were taking shelter from the heavy rain.
According to Chicago's CBS 2, around 2:30 PM, an unknown individual suddenly appeared and opened fire on the group.
Pendleton was shot in the back and died an hour later at Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. Another teen sustained a leg injury and was listed in serious condition as of Tuesday evening.
Though the Kenwood neighborhood is comparatively crime-free, police believe the shooting was gang-related, as some of the teens who were at the park at the time are known to have gang affiliations.
"There has to be an end to it. It's just too much. The children cannot go to school. They're in fear," said resident Bonita O'Bannion.
No arrests have been made yet, and investigators say they lack a good description of the attacker or his getaway car because witnesses are refusing to cooperate.
