Chicago shooting: 8-year-old boy shot in head, killed inside Douglas home, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A child was shot and killed inside a South Side home on Monday night, Chicago police said.

The shooting happened in the Douglas neighborhood's 3600-block of South Rhodes Avenue at about 5:48 p.m., police said. An 8-year-old boy was inside a home with other people when shots were fired.

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The child, shot in the head, was transported to Comer Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Community activist Andrew Holmes spoke with the child's mother and grandmother after they learned he had died.

"They're totally distraught about losing their loved one. They say he's a fun little guy and they're going to miss him, but I wish his mother would have her son to wake up in the morning and just laugh with her son," Holmes said. "And the mother is cooperating, and the other people that was there are cooperating, too. Like I say, this is a very close-knit family, very respectful."

Police said they believe the shooting may have been accidental, but did not immediately provide further information about the shooting.

No one is in custody and Area One detectives are investigating.

Nearly 300 juveniles have been shot in Chicago this year, 39 fatally.