Shamiya Adams, 11, fatally shot in West Garfield Park

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Saturday, July 19, 2014
Vigil held for Shamiya Adams, 11-year-old fatally shot
A vigil is held for a murdered 11-year-old Chicago girl as police search for her killer.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A vigil was held Saturday for a murdered 11-year-old Chicago girl as police search for her killer.

Shamiya Adams was hit by a bullet that came through a window while she was at a sleepover. Family and friends gathered for the vigil, held at the same spot where the shooting took place Friday night in the 3900 block of West Gladys in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

Investigators have yet to make an arrest in the case. They are looking at footage from police cameras set up in the area.

Meanwhile, the community is still struggling to understand how something as innocent as a sleepover could end up with a child dead.

"A great-grandmother should not have to bury her great-granddaughter," said Lourene Miller. "This is some pain I can't even explain. It hurts so bad."

There were prayers and candles, and condolence messages. At one point it was as if the entire neighborhood had come out to remember Shamiya Adams, an 11-year-old girl who had been at a sleepover with her best friend Friday night when a stray bullet went through an apartment window, and into the room where the girls were playing.

"It's sad when children can't play, when children can't have hope. This tragedy shouldn't have happened," said Pastor George Daniels, First Baptist Congregational Church.

Reacting to the little girl's death Saturday morning, a visibly upset Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke about his condolence call to Shamiya's mother.

"I got nothing left to say to these moms. I don't know where they find the strength to go on. Put one foot in front of the other," Emanuel said. "We're a better city than that. We're better people."

Shamiya was one of two people killed by gunfire Friday night in Chicago. Nearly two dozen others were wounded.

"People need to learn to put the guns down," Miller said. "They do too much damage. They cause so much pain. Not just Shamiya. But the boy, whoever did it, his life is gone too, cause he's going to be behind bars."

Local public officials and religious leaders offered an $8,000 reward for information leading to the person who shot Shamiya Adams.