'She didn't even get a chance to fight': Family grieves after 2 sisters shot, 1 fatally, on NW Side

Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Family grieves after 2 sisters shot, 1 fatally, on NW Side
Family grieves after 2 sisters shot, 1 fatally, on NW SideA 7-year-old girl is dead and her 6-year-old sister is "fighting for her life" after they were shot Sunday in Belmont Central, according to Chicago police.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago family continues to grieve after two young sisters were shot, one fatally, while sitting in a car on the Northwest Side Sunday.

A 6-year-old girl continues to fight for her life in the hospital while her 7-year-old sister has died.

Michael Broughton, the girls' father, stepped away briefly from the vigil he and his wife are keeping at their daughter Aubrey's hospital bedside, still wearing the t-shirt stained with daughter Serenity's blood.

"They shot her in her heart. She didn't even get a chance to fight," he said.

The girls' father said his family enjoyed a morning at church Sunday, then stopped by to visit relatives in the 6200-block of West Grand Avenue. They had wrapped up their visit just before 3 p.m., and were going to pick up food and head home -- with the girls already in the car -- when someone drove by and opened fire.

"Like a machine gun going off, like, you know what I mean, like two people shooting at each other or something," said Alberto, who lives near the scene.

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Serenity Broughton, 7, died from her injuries and her younger sister Aubrey remains in the hospital.

Michael said he has no idea who did this or why.

"I'm not no gangbanger. I'm not out here doing the wrong thing. I'm a CTA worker. I'm a bus driver," he said.

The car with bullet holes is still at the scene, near a small memorial where one neighbor lite a candle for the girls.

"Seeing the little girl laying there. I have grandkids, too. It's so sad," the neighbor said.

The girls' grandmother Regina Broughton remains in shock and wants justice for her grandchildren.

"I'm lost, I'm lost....I mean they were my life, my everything," Regina said. "How do you prepare yourself for something like this? She was a beautiful child. Her spirit was beautiful, innocent, everything about her was innocent."

The 6-year-old was hit in the chest and right armpit, and remains in stable condition, her 7-year-old sister was shot in the chest and later died.

WATCH: CPD gives update on Belmont Central shooting of 2 young sisters

A 7-year-old girl is dead and her 6-year-old sister is "fighting for her life" after they were shot Sunday in Belmont Central on the city's Northwest Side, according to Chicago pol

Devastated by the loss of one of her grandchildren, Regina said the 7-year-old was supposed to take her very first plane ride in just two days.

"She had dreams of just going to the airport, she just wanted to see the airport, wanted to go up on the plane," she said.

"To say I'm saddened and outraged is an understatement," said Chicago Police Chief Brian McDermott. "I only hope every resident in this city is as angry, saddened and outraged as I am at this time.

In the meantime, family said Aubrey is alert and talking. Her father had to break the news that her sister was gone.

"I wouldn't think she understood, but I had to tell her because she was thinking that her sister was in another room and she was going to see her," he said.

A $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction, community activist Andrew Holmes said Sunday.

"Come forth and take responsibility. Whoever sees this, turn them in, it was a child, she didn't deserve this," Regina added. "If you have any kind of heart, step forward do what you're supposed to do, and do what a decent human being should do."

"It's not about the money it's just about catching these individuals before they strike and hit another child. Stop killing our children," Holmes said.

Fellow community activist Ja'mal Green is also offering a $5,000 reward for information on the shooter(s).

According to a count by ABC7, more than 250 children have been shot and 32 killed so far this year in Chicago.

"Too many young people have lost their lives to senseless gun violence in Chicago," McDermott said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police or share tips anonymously to CPDtip.com.

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