Hundreds gather for Shamiya Adams funeral

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Hundreds gathered to say goodbye to 11-year-old Shamiya Adams. She died last week when a stray bullet hit her during a sleepover.

"There are no words to explain how I feel right now," said Shakena Jones, Adams' cousin, "but I love her. I miss her right now."

Shamiya Adams was shot and killed last week in Garfield Park when a stray bullet fired from the street went through a bedroom window, hitting her in the head. Shamiya was sitting on the floor with a group of friends gathered for a slumber party.

Her family, friends and neighbors remembered Shamiya, who was given the nickname "Queen" by her grandmother, as a loving child who enjoyed dancing and helping friends.

A horse-drawn carriage carried her casket to its final resting place. Her pallbearers wore green t-shirts with her name and age on their backs, and her family and friend's followed close behind. Many of them wore green as well, as it was Shamiya's favorite color.

Saturday's funeral service, held at the Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, brought renewed calls for an end to gun violence. Various city officials, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson and with Governor Pat Quinn, attended and spoke.

"There are no words in the English language, or any language, for the pain of losing such a special young child," Quinn said.

"I pray that the innocent blood of this baby will challenge use to step up and take back our communities," said Reverand Ira Acree.

During the emotional service, Shamiya was also remembered as a playful girl who enjoyed school, liked making people laugh and often volunteered for various causes,

most recently helping out with a penny drive to raise funds to get new books for the library and volunteering as a babysitter for kindergarteners at her school.

The funeral comes a day after a judge denied bond for the alleged gunman responsible for her death. Police say 18-year-old Tevin Lee fired into a crowd last week during an argument.