A nine-year-old girl, Ariana Molina, was killed and ten others, including three children, were injured in a shooting incident in the Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The shooting occurred during a family gathering and left three other children in critical condition.
The shooting occurred around 9:15 PM near West 52nd Street and South Damen Avenue. The family was celebrating a Catholic Confirmation outside their home when a black sedan drove by and the occupants opened fire on the crowd.
The Chicago Police Department was alerted by the ShotSpotter detection system that had recorded 18 rounds. Even though they responded promptly, Ariana Molina was fatally hit in the head and later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Her father, Jose Molina, was shot in the foot.
“The whole family was together, just trying to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate,” Jose Molina said. “None of us could have ever imagined it turning out this way.”
The youngest victim of the attack was a one-year-old boy who sustained multiple gunshot wounds. His seven-year-old brother was also critically injured, and both were taken to the hospital. A nine-year-old boy was grazed on the hand. Other victims of the attack ranged in age from 19 to 40. Ariana’s aunt, Alejandra Velasquez, said that all the wounded were related and that Ariana’s mother was wounded in the shoulder and still hospitalized. Velasquez herself was standing in front of Ariana when she was shot.
According to Deputy Chief Don Jerome of Area 1, the shooting was not random but was likely gang-related, a fact that increases the tragedy considering the setting. “This was not a random act of violence; it was likely gang-related,” Jerome confirmed. “The offenders’ actions are horrific and unacceptable in our city.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his deep disturbance over the incident, stressing the unacceptability of such violence. “The heartbreak of losing one of our city’s children is unimaginable, especially under these tragic circumstances,” said Mayor Johnson. “We must not become numb to this pain.”
In response to the tragic event, the city announced plans to send trauma support teams to the Back of the Yards community to help those affected. Additionally, a canvassing event to provide victim services and trauma care has been scheduled to aid in the healing process.
The Chicago Police continue their investigation into the incident and urge anyone with information to come forward. This tragic event highlighted the city’s ongoing struggle with gun violence, as 48 people were shot in separate incidents across Chicago during the same weekend.
Deputy Chief Jerome emphasized, “This incident, this loss of a young life, this pain inflicted on a family gathered to celebrate—none of it should be normal, none of it can be dismissed. Three innocent children were struck tonight, and these actions are horrific and unacceptable in our city.”
The following day, the family and their relatives, many of whom live on the same street, gathered again. Stricken with grief, they erected a modest memorial on the street, featuring a cross, pink balloons, and votive candles in memory of Ariana and the other victims.
