ENGLEWOOD — The mother of a juvenile girl charged with killing another teenage girl, reportedly in a dispute over a boy on Facebook, says she herself has been threatened on social media.
When her daughter, charged with killing 14-year-old Endia Martin, appeared in court earlier this week, news accounts noted the suspect, also 14, was unaccompanied by family.
But the mother told DNAinfo Chicago Thursday there was a reason for that: "I did not attend court because I have been receiving threats on Facebook."
The mother added, "I know people want revenge but this is the wrong way to go about it."
The mother, who is not being named by DNAinfo Chicago in order to protect the identity of her juvenile daughter, said she planned to visit her daughter Thursday in juvenile detention.
Sources said an argument over a boy on Facebook led to the shooting Monday in the 900 block of West Garfield Boulevard in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Donnell Flora, an uncle of the girl charged in the murder, has been charged with providing the weapon and a 17-year-old boy has been charged with hiding the gun.
The mother, 30, said Flora is the brother of her child's deceased father.
She described her daughter as "a sweet girl who got caught up in some mess."
"My daughter is not the monster people are making her out to be," she said, adding, "I hate to see her in this position and I am going to do what I can to help her."
The mother said while she is not excusing her daughter's alleged action she wants people to know that her child, who is a freshman at John Hope College Prep, is like any other teenager.
Additionally, the mother said her condolences go out to Endia's family.
"My prayers go out to the family of the girl that got killed," she added.
A prayer vigil was held for Endia Wednesday in her Back of the Yards neighborhood.
The mother said she wants to leave the neighborhood with the girl's twin brother.
"After I get my daughter situated, I want to move out of Englewood to keep my son out of trouble," she said. "I don't like living around here anymore."
Two other people were charged Thursday with crimes related to Endia's killing.
