A community mourns the tragic loss of an 8-year-old girl who was shot and killed on the northwest side of Chicago over the weekend. Sarabi Medina was playing outside her Portage Park apartment building when she was brutally gunned down. The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, is currently in critical condition at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Charges against him are pending, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Loved ones and neighbors have come together to create a memorial for Sarabi Medina, the innocent girl whose life was cut short. Destiny Hill, a neighbor, fondly remembers Sarabi riding her scooter with a smile on her face. The attack on the little girl was completely unprovoked, leaving the community in shock and disbelief.
On Saturday night, police responded to the girl’s home on North Long Avenue after receiving reports of gunfire. Sarabi was rushed to Stroger Hospital in critical condition but tragically succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. Rene Aquino, a friend of Sarabi’s father who witnessed the incident, described the horrifying sequence of events. Aquino, who was visiting from Florida, had just greeted Sarabi’s father when they heard a gunshot. The suspect emerged from the building with a gun in hand and shot Sarabi in the head. Sarabi’s father bravely tackled the suspect, causing the gun to discharge again and injuring the offender.
Detectives remained at the scene throughout Sunday, searching the suspect’s apartment for evidence. The neighbor, who had a history of yelling at children playing on the block, was reportedly wearing headphones during the attack. Megan Kelley, a family friend, expressed her grief and called for change in the face of such senseless violence. Sarabi, known as BB to her loved ones, was about to start fourth grade at Reinberg Elementary School.
Detectives are actively investigating the fatal shooting incident, and a weapon was recovered at the scene.