6-month-old Jonylah Watkins was shot five times in Chicago on Monday. She was rushed to Comer Children’s Hospital where died in the hospital on Tuesday morning. Her father, Jonathan Watkins was changing her diaper in the front passenger seat of a minivan, when a gunmen approached them and opened fire.
According to DNAinfo Chicago, Jonylah was shot in the lung, liver, leg, shoulder and bowel, and had undergone at least five hours of surgery. Acting spokesman for the family, Rev. Corey Brooks said the city of Chicago should be outraged that a 6-month-old baby could be shot and killed.
Brooks said that the New Beginnings Church would offer up to a US$5000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Jonylah’s killer. Another community group also agreed to chip in US$1000, bringing the total reward to US$6000.
Jonylah’s father was also wounded in the shooting, but was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious-to-critical condition. Her mother, Judy Watkins was previous shot while carrying the child. She was working at McDonald’s at the time of the Monday shooting.
The local police department say the father has known gang affiliations. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said, “He was obviously targeted”, but felt that no child, especially an infant should be a victim of gang violence.
Source: Huffington Post
