Skip to content 
[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
This is truly heartbreaking – and an act of violence so senseless and random that we honestly can’t even begin to imagine what would have motivated it.
A 7-year-old Chicago girl was fatally stabbed in the back by a woman she didn’t know — again, a complete and total a stranger to her – as she walked along the sidewalk with her older sister in broad daylight.
Related: Caleb Flynn found guilty of murder in wife Ashley’s death
According to the Chicago Police Dept via multiple media Sunday morning, the shocking attack happened around 11:55 a.m. Saturday near South Cottage Grove Avenue and East 86th Street in Chicago’s East Chatham neighborhood
Police said the woman approached the child while the little girl was walking with her sister, and – apparently without any provocation – stabbed her several times in the back with a sharp object.
The little girl, identified as Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon with NBC Chicago and the Chicago Tribunewas rushed to Comer Children’s Hospitalwhere she was pronounced dead.
WTF.
William Smithsaid a witness who works at a nearby barbershop WGN 9 News:
“I noticed that a little girl was lying on the ground. People were standing over her. I heard a young woman, or a young man, saying, ‘That’s the woman. She did it. She’s running.'”
Bystanders reportedly chased him and detained the female suspect until police arrived. NBC Chicago we got a video showing people following her with what appeared to be jumper cables. A witness even went so far as to tell WGN 9 that a bystander “seduced” the suspect with the cables before he and others began “dropping the hammers” on him.
Who…
The suspect was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and remains in police custody. She has not been publicly identified.
RELATED: Illinois mother allegedly killed baby after receiving ‘extreme deposition’ in Lindsay Clancy trial
As you might expect, opinions around the area were very strong.
Evidence Stephanie Johnson told NBC Chicago:
“It’s terrible. Our babies are losing their lives younger and younger to senseless violence every day.”
And a nearby resident Denise Freeman told ABC 7 Chicago:
“I don’t know what this world is coming to. For a 7-year-old child to be stabbed like that, I never thought it would come to this level. I never did. These kids today don’t get a chance to live their lives.”
Alderman of the City of Chicago Michelle A. Harris also dealing with the tragedy later in the day Facebookwrites:
“I am devastated by the senseless stabbing of a 7-year-old in our neighborhood. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and everyone affected by this horrific event.
So, so sorry.
Our hearts go out to Edi’s loved ones and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy. We can’t even imagine that a family has to go through something like this. Really awesome.
If you have serious reason to suspect child abuse, call Childhelp’s National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
[Image via C.M. Wiggins/WENN]
