LATEST ON GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA:
Girl 15, Shot & Murdered in Chicago…After performing at Barack Obama 2nd Inauguration ceremony
* Family, friends, school mates mourn * Assassin escaped in a white car–Police * How she was shot in the back
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My heart is broken-Victim’s Father * ‘I’m in Pains-Deceased Mum * US Senate views report on deceased post mortem
- Her plans to travel to Europe on music tour foiled
- Her last word on Twitter before death “I’m Tired’
BY SAMUEL SHOAGA/MANAGING EDITOR, NEW YORK & SHERLEY ABRAHAMS/CRIME REPORTER, CHICAGO
IT is an open secret that crime rate in the United States is so high, particularly as related to gun violence, where mostly ‘insane people’ with access to gun could just pull the trigger and snuff life out of innocent people. A recent and very painful case is the untimely death of Hadiya Pendleton, an intelligent 15-year-old girl who performed at President Obama’s second inauguration. She was shot dead same day while hanging out with friends after school with an alleged silent pistol by an unknown ‘killer’ in Chicago.
Pendleton’s death has brought an abrupt end to her academics and endowment as a creative and gifted musician. Though described by family as a ‘walking angel’ because of her happy nature, her murder under a canopy in Vivian Gordon Harsh Park when a gunman ran down an alley, opened fire and fled in a white car has obviously confirmed the increasing danger to gun access by many Americans.
Police Position
Police officer Laura Kubiak, Naija Standard observed claimed that Pendleton was shot in the back but managed to run about a block before she collapsed, said. She died at the hospital. Also, a-16-year-old boy was wounded in the 2:20 p.m. incidence. Police said Pendleton, who had no criminal record, was probably not the intended target.
Deceased Mother in Tears
Cleo Cowley, the deceased mother laments in tears: “Never in a million years did I think I would get a call that my own baby had been gunned down.” She claimed she was at work that black Tuesday afternoon when she got an unexpected call from one of her daughter’s friends. Her words: “She was screaming on the phone that Hadiya’s been shot, she’s been shot, and I just didn’t understand. I and my other relatives believe my daughter brought us honor as a student, an insatiable reader who still found time to play volleyball and a twirl a baton in the school marching band.”
Deceased Father goes Philosophical
Damon Stewart, 36 years old father reportedly and police officer said “As usual, the bad guy aims, but he never hits the other bad guy . . . He hits the one that hurts the most to lose. I changed her diapers; I played with her growing up. My heart is broken.”
A sophomore at selective King College Prep High School, Pendleton had traveled to Washington to perform with the band at inaugural events.
US Senate React
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill, so touched by the incidence said at a Senate hearing on gun violence “It was the highlight of her young 15-year-old life. Just a matter of days after the happiest day of her life, she’s gone.”
White House: ‘A terrible tragedy’
Naija Standard White House spokesman Jay Carney called the shooting a “terrible tragedy” and said the Obamas were praying for Pendleton’s family.
The deceased cousin Shatira Wilks said the inauguration trip was the talk of a family gathering around New Year’s, but the young majorette was even more excited about something else: plans to travel to Europe this spring with the band.
Premonition of her Death
As if Pendleton had a premonition of her demise, she last tweeted just before 1 a.m. on the sad day she died “I’m tired”. Many of her classmates changed their Twitter handles to honor her and decried the violence that had claimed an innocent life.
Friends, Classmates eulogize her
Many of her friends, Naija Standard gathered described her as a bubbly, well-liked student.
For Tyler Genovesi, 14, she said “She was always smiling and laughing. She was just a really nice person. There are a lot of people crying in school. It’s very sad. The school band is playing for her.”
Chicago: A gun violence zone
Pendleton’s murder, going by Naija Standard investigation was one of three shooting deaths in the city that day. More than 40 people have been shot dead in Chicago since the beginning of the year. There were 506 homicides in the city last year, a 16 percent increase even as other large cities, like New York, saw murders drop.
Obviously, this is death too many. Our Editorial Board members wish the Obama administration to keenly look into the issue of arms possession which has led to high gun violence in the United States.
