A 7-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed while walking along a Chicago sidewalk has been identified as Eddimar Paola Hernández Chacón, as her family and the East Chatham community mourn her death.
The attack happened shortly before noon Saturday, Oct. 3, in the 8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 86th Street, according to police. Authorities said Eddimar was walking southbound when a woman approached her and stabbed her multiple times in the back.
Eddimar was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police said the woman accused of attacking the child did not appear to know her. What led to the stabbing remains unclear, and investigators have not said whether the attack was random.
Bystanders Chased and Detained Suspect
People in the area quickly responded after witnessing the attack. Several bystanders chased the woman and detained her before police arrived.
The suspect was injured during the struggle and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Her injuries were described as non-life-threatening before she was placed in police custody.
The incident drew a large police response, while investigators worked to determine what happened and what may have led to the deadly encounter.
The woman has since been identified as 48-year-old Shavon Gayden. Prosecutors have charged her with one count of first-degree murder in connection with Eddimar’s death. She is expected to appear in court Monday.
Family Gathers to Remember Eddimar
Eddimar’s family gathered Sunday near the location of the stabbing for a vigil. Relatives, friends and community members formed a prayer circle, lit candles and released white balloons in her memory.
Ald. Michelle A. Harris, who represents the area, said Eddimar and her 16-year-old sister had been in the neighborhood to pay a phone bill at a nearby Boost Mobile store. The sisters were reportedly followed after leaving the store shortly before the attack.
Family members remembered Eddimar as a cheerful child who loved to sing and dance.
The tragedy has left residents struggling to understand how a young child could be attacked in the middle of the day while simply walking through her neighborhood.
Investigation Continues
Police have not publicly established a motive for the stabbing. Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including what happened immediately before the woman approached Eddimar.
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Chicago police.
For Eddimar’s family, however, the investigation now comes alongside the difficult work of mourning a child whose life ended in a sudden act of violence.
