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4-Year-Old Shot, His Mother Killed In 'Ambush:' Reports

By Kelly Bauer | July 28, 2017 6:52pm | Updated on July 29, 2017 12:00am

CHICAGO — A four-year-old boy was among three people shot in Austin on Friday, police said. His mother was reportedly slain.

At 5:19 p.m., the three were in the 5200 block of West Kamerling Avenue when they were shot, police said. The boy was hit in his arm and was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

A woman was hit in her head and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Nikia Betts, 28, of the 1300 block of North Lockwood Avenue, was pronounced dead at 5:54 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. An autopsy showed she died from multiple gunshot wounds in a homicide.

The woman was the four-year-old's mother, according to the Tribune. A relative told the Tribune the three victims were "ambushed."

A 19-year-old man was hit in his left arm and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.

No one was in custody, and no further information was immediately available.

At least 21 children who were 13 or younger have been shot this year, including the boy. About a week ago, another four-year-old and a six-year-old were shot while grabbing snow cones with their father in Austin.