Chicago Girl Fatally Shot by Neighbor
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS/Getty Images
Neighbors pass by a memorial for a 9 year-old girl shot and killed outside of her Portage Park apartment on Saturday, on Monday, Aug. 7 in Chicago.
Details of the Tragic Incident
CNN —
A 9-year-old girl was fatally shot in front of her Chicago home by her neighbor, who allegedly fired the gun at her before her father ran toward the shooter and tackled him to the ground, according to a legal document CNN obtained Tuesday.
Suspect Arrested and Charged
Michael Goodman, 43, is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of the child, who rode her scooter to buy ice cream from a nearby ice cream truck before the shooting Saturday evening, according to the document.
Father’s Account of the Shooting
Before the shooting, the child’s father was talking to friends who were in a vehicle in front of his residence while his daughter, identified as “V,” was riding her scooter, according to the document, known as a bond proffer.
The father heard a gunshot in the vicinity and told his daughter to take her scooter back to the apartment.
Shooter Emerges and Shoots the Child
“As V approached the front door of her apartment building, D (shooter) emerged from his apartment building across the street holding a firearm,” the document states.
Father’s Heroic Efforts
The father and other witnesses saw the neighbor – identified as Michael Goodman – across the street as he approached the child, and the father shouted at the neighbor “what he was doing,” according to the document.
“While V’s father ran to his daughter, he observed D raise the firearm, point it at the V, and shoot the V in the head. V’s father tackled D into the vestibule and as they both fell to the ground the gun discharged, striking D in the eye,” the document said.
Tragic Outcome
The child was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. The suspect was arrested and taken to a hospital.
Gun Violence in the US
The shooting comes as the US continues to grapple with widespread gun violence, which is the leading cause of death in children and teenagers in the country.
Evidence Points to the Suspect
Police swabbed the suspect’s hands while he was in the hospital, and they tested positive for gunshot residue, the document said. A 9mm Canik firearm was recovered outside of the apartment.
Suspect Remains in Custody
Goodman is currently being held with no bail after authorities’ request.
Legal Consequences
“The defendant is responsible for the death of a person and the defendant was armed with a firearm and that he personally discharged that firearm and it proximately caused death to another individual,” the document added.