Teen girl shot in head in East Chatham near 83rd, Ellis

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A teenage girl is in serious condition after she was shot in the head Tuesday afternoon in the 900-block of East 83rd Street.

Chantal Hammontree, 18, was driven to University of Chicago Hospital, where she was upgraded from critical to serious condition and moved to Mt. Sinai Hospital. Despite a bullet wound to the head, relatives said she was alert and talking at the hospital.

"She's got a few fragments in there, but she didn't lose consciousness, she's still awoke and she's still coherent, she know everybody, know everything, and so they just waiting now, they did the tests and everything, so far it's looking good," said Randy Berry, victim's uncle.

Relatives said Hammontree was hanging out with friends near her home near 83rd and Ellis when a man walked up to her on the sidewalk and opened fire. Witnesses heard a handful of shots.

Friends drove her to U of C Hospital, where police put up yellow tape outside the emergency room. The Chrysler Town & County van she was riding in had its back window shot out.

"Nobody gets shot in the head and still awake and still talking and everything so, that was a miracle all by itself," said Berry.

Hammontree's uncle says the shooting likely stemmed from a previous dispute the gunman had with one of Hammontree's relatives who was also shot a few weeks ago. Her uncle says the dispute had nothing to do with Hammontree, a recent CPS graduate with plans to join the military.

The shooting comes after a weekend of alarming gun violence when more than 80 people were wounded and 15 were killed. Among the shooting victims was Tonya Gunn, whose relatives held a vigil Tuesday night appealing for peace. On Tuesday, the governor offered up Illinois State Police as back up.

"I'm prepared to help the mayor and police chief if they request it, wherever they need it. And I think it's important that we work together on this law enforcement issue. Public safety is imperative to protect the people," said Gov. Pat Quinn.

"This is not a city official's problem, a governor's problem, a mayor's problem, a police problem. This is a community issue where community residents need to get up," said Andrew Holmes, community activist.

Chantal Hammontree is listed in serious condition, but her family says, despite her very serious head wound, she's expected to fully recover.