BACK OF THE YARDS — The death of a 16-year-old girl who died from an asthma attack after running from a fatal block party shooting was a homicide, according to authorities.
Jessica Williams witnessed the July 28 shooting just after midnight in the 800 block of West 50th Place, where about 100 people were partying in the street.
As bullets began flying, Jessica, an incoming sophomore at Chicago Vocational Career Academy, tried to run away, but she suffered an asthma attack and collapsed nearby.
She was brought to Roseland Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She died of bronchial asthma and stress associated with gunshots fired into a crowd, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“The manner of death is homicide,” said Becky Schlikerman, a spokeswoman for the morgue.
No arrests have been made, and detectives are still investigating, according to Chicago Police.
The shootings happened during a party in memory of Shondell Adams. He died on June 10, 2012, after getting shot by a rival gang member. According to social media, friends celebrate his birthday every year.
This particular celebration turned horrific.
Police say an argument over a parking spot led to a gun fight that left two people dead and two people injured.
Denzel Childs, 25, died at Stroger Hospital after someone shot him multiple times in his head, neck and chest.
A 33-year-old woman, identified as Kayana Q. Armond, was shot in her neck and taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. A 21-year-old woman was shot in her hand and taken to St. Bernard Hospital, and a 25-year-old woman was hit twice in her back and taken to Stroger Hospital.
Williams died after running from the scene.
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