SOUTH SHORE — A 6-year-old girl shot in the chest Friday night still isn't talking, but she recognizes family members and is responding to hospital staff, her father said Thursday morning.
Quianna Tompkins has "got a breathing tube in her still," Kenneth Tompkins said outside of the family's South Shore home Thursday, the first time he'd been home since the shooting. "She's not talking yet, but she knows who her family is and is responding to nurses' commands."
Quianna was rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn last week after she was shot in her chest during a barbecue and memorial held in honor of a slain Roseland man who was the brother of Quianna's mother's best friend. Another woman was also shot.
Three teens were arrested for the incident in the 300 block of West 105th Street during which they "shot into a crowd of unarmed citizens without regard for human life," Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Dillman said at their bond hearing Wednesday.
Kenneth Tompkins said the family had spent every night with Quianna since the shooting and had largely avoided watching or reading the news, but they knew about the arrests.
Angelo Clark, 17, Terrence Lynom, 16, and Ladon Barker, 15, have been each charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
"I feel good about that, but I feel like it's a tragedy because they are so young," Tompkins said.
The youngest of four daughters of Tompkins and Juannakee Kennedy, Quianna just graduated kindergarten at Wee Care Nursery School & Kindergarten, 1843 E. 79th St.
"She loves to draw. She loves science. She loves everything," Tompkins said. "She is a Renaissance girl."
Tompkins, who learned of his daughter's shooting while he was coming home from work, said he was worried for the safety of his family.
"If she wasn't over there, I don't think she would've been shot," Tompkins said. "But there's shootings everywhere, not just in that neighborhood or in Chicago."
He added: "There's too many guns out here and too many knuckleheads. But we're staying strong. Staying prayerful. Through faith you can get through anything."
