CHICAGO — Kanari Gentry Bowers, the 12-year-old girl shot in her head over the weekend while she was playing basketball outside a West Englewood school, has died.
She died Wednesday afternoon after being hospitalized since Saturday night.
“Kanari Gentry Bowers passed away this afternoon," her family said in a statement. "We are appreciative of all of the thoughts and prayers we have received in the past several days.
"Please keep your children close and do whatever it takes to protect them from the senseless gun violence in our city."
Andrew Holmes, a community activist, met with Kanari's family Tuesday night.
“I did sit by the bedside of the young lady," he said. "I wanted to talk to them and encourage them. They were hoping for the best, and it looks like it turned to the worst.”
The family was too distraught to speak Wednesday, Holmes said. He is encouraging community members with any information about the shooting to contact the Chicago Police Department or to leave a confidential message at 800-883-5587.
Her death follows the death of Takiya Holmes, an 11-year-old who was also shot in her head on Saturday night, in a separate incident not far from where Kanari was hit. Takiya Holmes was the cousin of Andrew Holmes.
Kanari was playing on the playground at Henderson Elementary School in the 1900 block of West 57th Street in the West Englewood neighborhood when she was shot at 7:15 p.m. Saturday.
Minutes later, Takiya Holmes was shot in the 6500 block of South King Drive. Both survived for several days before dying from their wounds.
No one is in custody in Kanari's shooting. Police on Wednesday announced charges in the shooting of Takiya, saying she was the victim of a stray bullet fired by a 19-year-old man in a drug dispute.
Antwan Jones is facing murder charges and is being held without bond.
Tips from the community led to Jones' arrest Tuesday. Holmes asked someone to step up for Kanari.
“The best thing for the community is for someone to turn himself in," Holmes said Wednesday. “The community needs to step up. … Share his name and picture so he won’t feel comfortable. Put it on social media or Facebook so he can turn himself in.”
