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Chicago Police Department
Kenneth Williams (left) and Michael Ward (right) were charged Monday in the shooting death of Hadiya Pendleton
Two suspects have been charged in last month’s shooting death of a 15-year-old Chicago girl who performed at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, police announced Monday night.
Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth Williams, 20, each face one count of first-degree murder for the death of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot two weeks ago in a park near her school, just days after returning from Washington, D.C., officials said. The two also face attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm for the attack that left two other teens wounded.
Ward was the shooter and confessed to police that Hadiya was not the intended target, police said. The shooting was allegedly meant to be a retaliation for Williams, who was shot last year.
Reached by phone Monday evening, Hadiya’s mother, Cleopatra Cowley, said she was “ecstatic” about the arrests and urged for the young men to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Look at what they've done to me and my family. We put so much work into raising my daughter. We had hopes. My son no longer has a big sister. They deserve to feel something that is remotely comparable,” Cowley told NBC News. “But my daughter is dead and even if they are rotting in jail, they will still be alive.”
Chicago police superintendent Garry McCarthy called Hadiya’s family “rocks in supporting us in this investigation.” During the press conference he said he hopes the high-profile murder will lead to meaningful change in the city’s gun law.
He also stressed that it wasn't tips from the community that led to the arrests, but rather relentless detective work.
“This was one of the most methodical, practical investigations that I can remember,” said McCarthy.
Since her death, Hadiya has become one of the faces of the Obama administration’s efforts to reform the nation’s gun laws. First Lady Michelle Obama attended the teenager’s funeral Saturday, and Cowley has been invited to attended Tuesday’s State of the Union.
“My baby deserves a revolution and I pray that what happened her to her will have an impact,” she said.
Chicago police announce the arrest, and charges, against two men in the shooting death of Hadiya Pendleton. Police also confirm that the shooter mistook the teens for gang members.
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Our hearts and prayers to the family and friends.
I hope this teaches us all about life and how precious it is. We need to stop this violence not by taking away the weapons used but by reaching out to those that would use these weapons to hurt others. They are the ones that need our help the most. May she now have the peace she dreamed of.
Using this tragic event to promote your position in the gun control debate is not very tactful, but something needs to be done. If a tighter control on guns are NOT taken, then there's the alternative; unmanned drones patrolling the skies over our major cities, watching every move we make, not only recording crimes, but the everyday doings of law abiding citizens also.
Instead of giving up our freedoms, why not just lock up these animals the first time they commit a crime and throwing away the keys so that they never can prey on law-abiding ciitizens again?
Had enuf: blessed be :) someone who gets it.
Sorry about the young lady and, my most sincere condolences to her family. Chicago, "MURDER CITY U.S.A. with the stronger Gun Control Laws in the Country and murder rate is out of control. I leave it to to the rest of you to figure that taking guns out of the "law abiding citizens" and letting gang member and all kind of mental sickos have guns, and be afraid to take on the task of disarming them is a Government total dereliction of DUTY. In order to cover their ineptitude they go to weakest link, "THE LAW ABIDING CITIZEN".
I really wish a public spectacle could be made of these two. Not public hanging or anything like that but putting them on display for all to see especially those that don't think before acting.
Glad that they managed to catch the guilty parties. This is a terrible tragedy, but the revolution needed is not meaningless gun legislation. What needs a revolution is elimination of the root cause of this gang violence in our nation's cities. I think there has been considerable research correlating the absence of functional families with gang membership and violence. The government needs to find incentives for families to stay together rather than providing financial disincentives that encourage reliance on the state. Sending endless streams of young men to jail is not the answer. In all of the meaningless gun debates going on right now, I have not seen many posting about changing the dynamic that causes so much violence, especially from the left side of the aisle. Like the Giffords plea earlier today, mostly a rant about "we must do something". As a gun owner I fear for what happens after the token measures they are currently proposing achieve nothing. The conclusion in the liberal mind will be that we must do more (a.k.a. Australia, Europe, ect). I submit that when you look at rates of gun ownership (posted today on MSNBC) that some of the most docile nations (Switzerland) have the highest rates. That would indicate that perhaps something else is wrong in this country. Suggest a look at the social dynamics of the welfare state is a good place to start.
The revolution should start with giving the honest citizens the right to protect and defend themselves.
The "gun free zone" signs are not working. No one seems to know why.
How about really stiff sentences in Illinois to start wiping Chicago clean of the gangs. Like death penalty would work great. Soon they will all be gone, like these two low lifes. And really heavy sentences for people who know about a crime and are too cowardly to tell police about it (won't snitch). How about life in prison for them.
More gun laws, added to the draconian mandates that already exist in both the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois will do absolutely nothing to help the situation. She wants a revolution? OK, let's start with a roundup of all the known gang members. Then, keep them off the streets permanently, just for being a member of a violent street gang that has caused deaths to innocent people. And I'm not talking about just the "trigger man" here. Anybody who belongs to a dangerous street gang should be locked up and forgotten. If a thug can't get a gun, they'll use a knife. If that doesn't work, they'll use fists and still murder people. There is no need for a violent gang banger to exist on the street, period.
Now what about the issue with guns? Recently, Detroit saw at least ONE justified homicide in the last month. And this was due to a high school coach who had a concealed carry permit. He saved the life of at least one teenager, and perhaps many others as well because those potential robbers no longer exist. And, I am sure there are many more deaths and injuries that were prevented without a single shot being fired, just by virtue of a homeowner or renter protecting their living quarters, without the need to resort to any violence.
And finally: What is wrong with an effective death penalty for murderers and rapists? I fully agree with your observation, Lilarose. Those who are too cowardly to report a crime should receive a life sentence. They are no better than the gang bangers.
Leave the guns alone and go after the gang-bangers.
Wasn't there two girls shot and killed in this shooting? What happened to the other girl? Why aren't they charged with her murder or attempted murder if she is not dead?
While I am glad that the shooters were arrested, I can't help but think that the second victim is being pushed aside and not considered important in the investigation?
She was wounded and is recovering well.
1 count of murder
2 counts of attempted murder have been charged
Except for the South and West sides, Chicago the city has never been safer - in over 20 years at least
This is correct, but you won't see the media reporting these facts!
Doesn't forward the agenda.
Well I cry every time I see her face or read her story. She is an angel.
Black punks out of control with guns. What else is new?
Wait....it was two gang bangers that killed Hadiya!!??? ....I thought a gun killed her...not people!!!
It was people with guns.
so the shooters were not yet 21, the minimum legal age to own a handgun in the US, and they were in Chicago, which has NO legal concealed carry for civilians, and they discharged a firearm in the city, and broke a whole litany of other laws, and somehow, it's the guns that are bad?
I will never understand the liberal mindset, because it's thought processes are not rooted in logic, but emotion.
Since her death, Hadiya has become one of the faces of the Obama administration’s efforts to reform the nation’s gun laws.
Why?
And that is about all that needs to be said.
No, I believe a crazy mother (expletive) killed his mom who was trying to raise him and THEN went to a school and killed babies.
Because his ass was to lame to try anything else.
And he was in a no gun zone.
AND there was no one at the school armed.
And I am tired of all the gun control freaks that think lawful gun owners ARE FREAKS.
Exactly.
SO arm up.
It is your right.
Who else will save you but yourself?
It's sad to see how far so many blacks haven't come. Decent people of color must be horrified.
Since President Obama is so quick to issue an Executive Order, what is he waiting for to issue one to disarm all "FELONS AND GANG MEMBERS" that are roaming our cities and towns every day? They are too weak at heart about losing their political clout, so to quiet the families of the horrific acts of sickos and gang members, they start talking about "GUNS BANS" as a security blanket and, to let those family members believe that "BIG BROTHER" is doing something about it. Is just a big lie and, they know it!!!.
Obama is using this poor girl's death for his own political agenda!! Sickening and disgusting!!! ...and Michelle Obama parading for the cameras at this girl's funeral???......Michelle Obama is a pig!!
Yea lets blame the guns, that seems logical. It couldnt be the lack of opportunities for young black people in the area, or gangs give parentless children a sense of security, or no food on the table so you have to steal to eat. Hell no, that couldnt be it. You put mass amounts of any group or race in an area with no jobs, no food, no help, gangs, and no way out you will have serious violence issues. That being said, we need to have public executions again.
Ummmmm....Tim, I mean you no disrespect, but where they *ell are you from and what century do you live in? Lack of opportunities? No food on the table so you have to steal it? Did you just finish watching freaking Les Mis? Are you kidding me? It's not about people not having opportunities, many choose not to take advantage of the opportunities available to them. You can go to a host of social service agencies or even a public school and they will either give you a food basket or tell you where to go within walking distance of your home to get a basket. I grew up on the Westside of Chicago and there were gangs there because dudes chose to join a gang instead of finish school!!! Funny, both my parents, yes my mother AND father worked!!! My mother worked right across the street at the elementary school. I can write a book about the horror stories. Not just about the bad *ss students, but about the apathetic teachers and the worthless principle. I went home in August and it was worse than when I was growing up there. Houses turned into Section 8, no grass to be seen, litter, hanging out by both men and women. Total decay and decadence. I am so sick and tired of hearing excuses for Black folks like we are one generation removed from slavery!!!! Enough is enough. Folks live in the predicament they live in today because they choose to!!! Ain't nobody to blame but themselves.
Maybe if black folks want to get a job or chances for those 'opportunities', they ought not have kids in their teen years, drop out of school and join gangs. That has nothing to do with anything other than choices, THEIR choices.
A revolution?
Like, perhaps, in the black community in Chicago?
I'm all for it. Cosby is right.
And where are Jackson and Sharpton?
That's right on "I'm Here to Offend You". We don't hear too much from them two parasites since Brother Obama" being president. They are just "RACIST BLACK DOGS".
I'm here: exactly.
Luis - You got it.
It's so sad to think of the good they could be doing - could have been doing - for years. Instead what do we get?
Well, if they WERE white gang bangers. They'd more than likely be affiliated with the aryan brotherhood or some other neo-nazi group. So yeah, I could imagine they WOULD be all over this. Since usually with racist bigots who have a gun: "killin all @!$%#s iz gud enuf 4 me"
"Chicago police superintendent Gerry McCarthy ... said he hopes the high-profile murder will lead to meaningful change in the city’s gun law."
Meaning what? It's already among the strongest in the nation! Or is he joining us in calling for a better armed citizenry trained and eager to defend themselves against the violent predators Chicago refuses to keep in jail?
My condolences on her loss, but what makes this mother think her kid was so freaking special that she deserves a revolution!
I wonder if they found the gun that these guys used. If so will the gun be put in prison too? After all IT killed that girl not those two poor young men.
it is shocking that it was two young black males!!.....I thought for sure it was going to be two white suburban kids.....maybe an Asian kid??
Hey, Slicky O, why don't you send Erik, aka "Fast and Furious" to disarm the hoodlums of your "home city". That would surely put some credibility on your intentions. Making sure that Jesse Jackson Jr. do not own a gun would be a good start.