News

Woman charged with first-degree murder in fatal stabbing of 7-year-old girl in Chicago

Woman charged with first-degree murder in fatal stabbing of 7-year-old girl in Chicago

Crime scene Photo: Shutterstock


CHICAGO (AP) — A woman has been charged with murder for allegedly stabbing to death a 7-year-old girl who was walking along a sidewalk in a Chicago neighborhood, police said.

Shavon Gayden, 48, was charged with one felony count of first-degree murder in connection with the death, Chicago police said in a statement Sunday.

Police said the girl was walking in the Chatham neighborhood Saturday morning when a woman carrying an unspecified sharp object approached her and stabbed her multiple times in the back. Bystanders chased after the woman and detained her, police said. Television networks showed a commercial strip lined with a restaurant, a nail salon and a market cordoned off by police tape afterward.

Gayden, who is from Chicago, was initially scheduled to appear for a hearing Monday morning but was hospitalized and was not going to appear, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said in an email. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the child as Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon. She was pronounced dead at Comer Children’s Hospital.

A security photo from a nearby business showed the girl walking hand in hand with an older female when she was attacked, WLS-TV reported.

It was not immediately clear if there was any relationship between the attacker and the girl. Police have not commented on a possible motive for the stabbing and declined Sunday to provide further details.

Attempts to reach members of Gayden’s family by phone were unsuccessful. Matthew Hendrickson, press secretary for the Cook County Public Defender, said that the office was assigned to Gayden at a hearing Monday but declined to comment further.

In a GoFundMe post to raise funds for a funeral, the girl’s uncle, Richard Hernandez Chacon, wrote that Edi Mari’s “passing leaves an indescribable void and profound grief in all of us who loved her.”

Messages left with Hernandez Chacon and another person believed to be a family member were not immediately returned.

Recent Headlines

17 hours ago in Entertainment

‘Rent’ musical celebrates its 30th Broadway anniversary with a starry show: ‘No day but today’

Jordan Fisher was in middle school when he first heard it. He was at his first cast party, gathering with fellow performers around his drama teacher's piano after some community theater.

19 hours ago in Business, Entertainment, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local

Illinois regulators move to bring video gambling under self-exclusion program

The state’s extensive network of video gambling terminals is one of the largest gaps in the program.

20 hours ago in Entertainment, IL State News, National

Chicago Is Getting A Life-Size Siskel And Ebert Sculpture Giving ‘Two Thumbs Up’

Pam Kasper, who has been working on a Siskel and Ebert documentary with director Michael Bonfiglio for the past two years, wanted to come up with a way to honor the two famed film critics in Chicago.

24 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Why big music stars like Harry Styles and Celine Dion are embracing residencies

For Harry Styles' dedicated audience, it is the can't-miss event of the year: Tens of thousands have descended on New York City's Madison Square Garden each night of his 30-date residency, rushing to catch the show before it concludes Halloween weekend.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Tom Cruise to receive life achievement award from the American Film Institute

Tom Cruise is being celebrated with a life achievement award from the American Film Institute, AFI's board of trustees said Wednesday The award will be handed out at a gala tribute in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre on April 24 next year.