According to Chicago police, the girl was shot in the head at around 2:45 p.m. in the 4000 block of West 26th Street.
The medical examiner’s office identified the girl as Melissa Ortega, a student at Emiliano Zapata Academy in Little Village. The Chicago Teachers Union released a statement on her death.
“Tonight, our union mourns the loss of another student from one of our school communities. This suffering is becoming all too familiar for many of Chicago’s children and families, who our educators nurture and support every day,” the statement said. “The Chicago Teachers Union sends its love to Melissa’s family and the Zapata Academy community, and wish them peace and healing from this heartbreaking tragedy.”
Ortega was walking with her mother when the alleged shooter was dropped off in a vehicle, got out of the car and began firing, Chicago police said.
Investigators said her mother heard the shots and found the girl had been struck by the gunfire. Ortega later died at Stroger Hospital, police said.
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Neither the girl nor her mother were the intended target, police said.
“No kid deserves to die young,” said Angel Ocampo.
A 26-year-old man, who police said was the intended target, was also shot in the back and transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
Authorities have not said if the victims knew each other.
Another 8-year-old-girl was sitting in the backseat of a car when the window was shot out during the shooting, police said. She was not struck.
“I’m asking that area over there and any individual that knows anything about this shooting, stand up for this baby! Let’s give this individual up. The baby is coming out of this hospital riding to the medical examiner’s office,” said community activists Andrew Holmes. “This should’ve never happened!”
Now, detectives are left to solve yet another crime in the city that claimed another life far too soon.
“It’s unsafe, right now! I’m very seriously talking from my heart,” Holmes said. “It is unsafe! Children can’t run. They can’t play. They want to go to school. They can’t go to school. This girl will never go to school.”
Ocampo said, ironically, he was at a nearby funeral home when he heard the shots.
“I just froze and just sat down. I didn’t know what happened. I just sat there,” Ocampo said. “It really isn’t safe. There’s a lot of crime here supposedly and there’s a lot of shootings. This is like gang territory.”
This shooting happened as many businesses were open in the area.
Police are looking through surveillance video, but have yet to give a description of the shooter.
The shooting follows a violent week in the city that saw at least five children shot on Tuesday alone.
On Twitter, Mayor Lori Lightfoot encouraged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
We wake today to the murder of 8-year-old Melissa in Little Village.
Amy and I send our sincerest condolences to this heartbroken family and shattered community.
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) January 23, 2022
“We cannot let fear cause us to lose our humanity,” Lightfoot said. “Please come forward so that Melissa’s family will know that there is justice for her.”
She reminded people of the anonymous tip line, which can provide payouts up to $10,000 for an arrest and up to $15,000 for a conviction. Still, she warned Chicagoans against fighting violence with violence.
“There may be a temptation by some to take matters into their own hands to avenge Melissa’s murder,” Lightfoot said. “Do not compound one tragedy with a series of others. In this time of grief, promote peace, not more violence.”
Rauner College Prep student Caleb Westbrooks was fatally shot Tuesday in Noble Square just after school let out.
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