Premature Newborn In ICU After Pregnant Teen Slain
Dolton Police Search For Pregnant Teen's Killer
OAK LAWN, Ill. (CBS) -- A newborn baby girl was fighting for her life Friday, born three months premature after her teenage mother was shot in the head on Christmas.
Eva Casara, 17, was shot in the back of the head Wednesday evening. She was found in the snow between two homes in the 1100 block of East 152nd Street around 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Casara was pronounced dead Thursday morning. Her baby survived, but was in critical condition Friday morning at the neonatal intensive care unit at Christ Hospital.
The newborn, named Lailani Paris Casara, weighed only 1 pound, 5 ounces when she was born, approximately three months premature.
"We're just hoping that they keep her stable. We ask everybody to continue to pray. That's all I have left of my baby girl," the shooting victim's mother, Estrellita Casara, told reporters Friday.
Meantime, Dolton police continued searching for the person who shot Eva. They say investigators were following several leads form social media, as well as potential surveillance videos that might help find the killer.
Dolton Police Chief John Franklin signaled Friday that "chances are very good" an arrest could occur soon.
Franklin tells CBS 2 the crime does not appear to be random.
Anyone with information should call the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force or the Dolton Police Department at (708) 201-3200.
