9 Year-Old Child Fatally Shot On Near North Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Police confirm a nine-year-old child shot on the Near North Side has died.
The incident took place near 900 North Cambridge around 6:45 p.m. According to police, the nine-year-old boy was shot in the chest and was transported to Lurie Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The boy has been identified as Janari Andre Ricks.
9-year-old Janari Andre Ricks was shot and killed Friday night while playing outside on Chicago's near north side. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/XHfzeDy5GS
— Vi Nguyen (@ViNguyen) August 1, 2020
According to Chicago police, the boy was playing outside when multiple rounds were fired into the direction of the child, who was not the intended target. Police said the offender was on foot, but it's unclear who the intended target was.
The boy is identified as nine-year-old Janari Andre Ricks.
"Any time a child is the victim of senseless gun violence in the city of Chicago, it greatly affects and saddens us all," said Brian McDermott, Chief of Operations with the Chicago Police Department.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot addressed the shooting on Twitter Saturday morning saying "prayers alone will not sooth a broken heart."
When a 9 year old's life is ended by a bullet, we must all be outraged. These deaths are not mere statistics. And prayers alone will not sooth a broken heart.
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) August 1, 2020
While our City has made progress in reducing violence in recent weeks, all of that is lost when we lose another child to gun violence.
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) August 1, 2020
Lightfoot is encouraging the public to come forward to tips leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to contact cpdtip.com to submit any details they may have on the crime. The information will remain confidential.
BREAKING NEWS: A 9 YO boy dies after getting shot in the chest. Police and family gathered in the 900 block of Cambridge. Stay with @cbschicago for updates pic.twitter.com/CpD1csyfMj
— Jermont Terry (@JermontTerry) August 1, 2020