Chicago police arrest two, including teen, in shooting death of 8-year-old girl

Two individuals, together with a juvenile, have been arrested in Chicago and charged within the dying of an 8-year-old lady who was fatally shot over the weekend, officers stated.

Xavier Guzman, 27, and an unidentified minor have been arrested by the Chicago Police for his or her involvement in a drive-by taking pictures in Little Village Saturday that resulted within the dying of 8-year-old Melissa Ortega, Fox 32 of Chicago reported.

CHICAGO GIRL, 8, DEAD AFTER CAUGHT IN INCIDENT BETWEEN ‘KNOWN OFFENDERS,’ POLICE SAY

{The teenager} pulled the set off at “purported gang members,” when he shot a 29-year-old man within the again and fatally shot Ortega, who was strolling down the road together with her mom, the Chicago Police stated, based on the report.

“Our metropolis has been shaken, and nobody could make sense of this tragedy,” Chicago Police Superintendent David O. Brown stated throughout a press convention Wednesday, Fox 32 reported. “This morning, I spoke with Melissa’s mom, in her dwelling, not solely to examine in on her throughout this particularly powerful time, however to additionally let her know we discovered the offenders chargeable for taking Melissa’s life.”

CHICAGO: 3 SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERIES IN 20 MINUTES ON CITY’S NORTHWEST SIDE

The 16-year-old was charged with one depend of homicide, one depend of tried homicide, two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm in an occupied car, and one depend of illegal use of a weapon, police stated, based on the report, whereas Guzman, the driving force of the automotive, was charged with homicide, tried homicide and illegal use of a weapon.

The 29-year-old particular person, who was shot within the again twice within the alternate, survived, the police stated. The person, who was the supposed goal of the gang-related taking pictures, is a recognized gang member who has been arrested 13 occasions and convicted of two felonies, Fox 32 reported. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital for his accidents.

Araceli Leanos, Ortega’s mom, who moved to the U.S. together with her daughter simply six months in the past, shared an announcement on the press convention calling the dying of her daughter “a nightmare.”

“We imagined a greater life right here. We got here searching for the American dream we so famously hear of, however as a substitute, I get to reside a nightmare for the remainder of my life,” Leanos stated, Fox 32 reported.

Leanos stated she forgives the juvenile shooter.

“To the aggressor, I forgive you. You have been a sufferer too. As a 16-year-old, the neighborhood failed you, identical to it failed my treasured child,” she stated, based on the report.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot additionally spoke on the press convention, the place she highlighted the continued gang violence plaguing the Little Village space.

“I’ve spoken to too many moms in that neighborhood who’ve instructed me they’re afraid, afraid to step outdoors of their houses, afraid for his or her lives, afraid the gangs have taken over,” Lightfoot stated, based on the report.