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Even in a city with more than 500 homicides a year, it's a crime that shocks the senses: a 6-month-old Chicago girl fatally shot five times while having her diaper changed in the family van.
Shootings and murders are down dramatically from the same point last year, when Chicago had more homicides than any other metropolis in the country, but that statistic means nothing to those mourning Jonylah Watkins.
The infant died Tuesday morning after several surgeries to repair injuries from five bullets that tore through her body the previous afternoon, family spokesman Pastor Corey Brooks said.
"The city of Chicago should be outraged that a 6-month-old baby could be shot and killed in our city," Brooks told NBCChicago.com. "It's horrific."
It appears the baby's father, who has an extensive criminal history, was the target, said Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, who added that the shooting has "very strong gang overtones."
"This is another tragedy, because no child, certainly not an infant, should be a victim of gun violence," McCarthy said at a press conference.
The father, Jonathan Watkins, 28, was shot in the buttocks and the face and was in stable condition Tuesday.
"I was trying to help her,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times after learning his daughter had died. "They told me she didn’t make it."
Gang violence has fueled the bloodshed in Chicago, which ended 2012 with 506 homicides on the books even as overall crime took a downturn.
Family photo
Jonylah Watkins
It was a gang turf war that led to another notorious slaying, the shooting of 15-year-old high-school majorette Hadiya Pendleton just days after she performed during President Obama's inauguration weekend.
The circumstances of Pendleton's death -- an honor student marked for death after she unwittingly set foot on gang territory -- made her a face of the national gun-control debate and sparked a local crime crackdown.
Chicago cops say new tactics are yielding results: Murders are down 26 percent and shootings are down 19 percent in the first quarter of this year over the same period last year.
"There's going to be good days, and there’s going to be bad days," McCarthy said after confirming the baby's death. "Today is obviously a bad day.”
McCarthy said no witness to the shooting has come forward, echoing the frustration he expressed after Pendleton's murder, when cops pleaded for an end to the no-snitching credo of the streets.
Brooks offered a $5,000 reward.
"We're going to find who did this and make sure they are brought to justice...We're not going to be afraid. We're going to take back our neighborhood."
Jonylah's grandmother, Mary Young, said the child had been touched by gun violence even before birth, when her mother was grazed in the knee by a bullet while pregnant.
M. Spencer Green / AP
A makeshift memorial is seen in Chicago, Tuesday at the site where 6-month-old girl Jonylah Watkins, and her father were shot.
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Just so undeniably sad and tragic on so many levels. A beautiful child's life snuffed out in an instant for nothing - and probably by someone who will never amount to anything but "a Nothin" who kills innocent people.
Agreed 100%.
Also, can I just say "thank you" for being the first to post and NOT mention anything about the ridiculous gun debate?
It's the beginning of March, I wouldn't be touting the 'falling homicide rates' yet...
according to this article. However, the shooting wasn't "for nothing" it was to let her father know that there are going to be consequences for his association with the wrong gang. the baby was considered an acceptable loss by reinforcing the fact that her father is involved with the wrong gang.
Talk about overkill. One fatal shot is enough. Of course this is BSNBC news so they have to try to inflame the passions of its readers through ignorance and poor journalism.
the thinker you obiviously doesn't know the mind frames of thugs. They act without reason. They shoot with no emotions. They care about very little in life. They just want to survive from day to day with no aspirations for the future.
Chris, I would have to disagree with you,
they do not kill without passion they are not necessarily psychopaths... They do what they do because things are different 'on the street' as opposed to normal fully functional people who hold jobs.
This Baby Daddy,or 'father' was a gang member, with a criminal record, he was no innocent and sadly for his daughter her daddy probably did something that had earned himself getting shot. Now I would agree that once deciding that this guy deserved to get shot the other gang members did not care who else my have gotten hit, it would be collateral damage to them but, I do not believe this was Random in anyway, this guy earned it and his daughter paid with her life..
Sad and disgusting but not really shocking or unheard of.. Which may be the saddest part of all........
"I see a red shash I kill the man wearing it" best quote I have heard. Gang bangers are worthless pieces of crap and all need to be illiminated what ever color the shash.
Not really a huge loss considering the future she faced.
Dad was an alleged gang banger. No surprise. I sure hope he didn't use her as a human shield. Yes very sad death by abortion.. Chicago style.
Amen to this comment. who ever shot this young baby will eventually be caught by the authorities or and eye for an eye. I hope that this stupid a// os shot just like he shot this baby or worse.
Chris, since when do people "earn" to get shot especially by other gang member thugs?? Yeah he may have a criminal record, but obviously so do the people that shot him. Your reasoning is off.
Unless you are saying he deserved it through the other gangs eyes. Which I hope is what you're saying.
Really? Since you know so much about the future, I could use some stock market advice. This may not be the stupidest thing I read today, but it is worthy of an honorable mention.
But seriously (NOT), this could have all been prevented had she been packing heat. The father here was clearly negligent by not arming her. Surely there is a compact that she could hold in her tiny little hands. And the barrel could double as a pacifier.
Do you people who think that guns should be taken away from people think that it would have made any difference in this case? If you say that if guns werent allowed, this would not have happened, you are lying to yourself.
And please give the "guns taken away" crap a rest! All of you posters talking about Dems, Repubs, Obama, NRA....give that @!$%# a break!
A baby is dead for Gods sake! Stay the hell on topic for a damn change!!!!!
Exactly, we should be discussing the problem the black community has with gang violence. If the father had not had gang affiliations, this poor little baby would be alive right now.
@ michelle - Hold it there Genius! Black communities arent the only communities with Gang Violence...You need to get out more Boo! There are PLENTY of communities with Hispanic and Asian Gangs that are far worse than any Black gangs!! And lets not forget the Skin Heads or the Aryan Brotherhood....they are the worst of the worst! So stop making it a Black thing. Youngsters of ALL races are simply out of control these days!!!
"Skin Heads or the Aryan Brotherhood.."
------------------------------------------------------------
Keep telling yourself that to justify the crap decimating the black community. Race card be damned. It's neither of these groups who shoot each other, on a daily basis, in our inner cities, is it?
Name em! Because all we've been hearing about lately is blacks! Especially blacks in Chicago. I am by no means racist. But you cannot deny the obvious connection to high gun violence and shootings to black communities! It's a fact! A statistical provable fact!
I live in LA, we have plenty of Asian and Hispanic gangs, but you're right, they don't shoot each other often enough for it to make the news. In fact, if they did, it would be a pretty big deal. Blacks shoot each other every single night here. Sometimes they hit innocent people like this baby, most of the time they don't.
I've NEVER heard one incident where a so-called 'white gang' had a gang shooting. Well, not since the cowboys roamed the west in the 19th century.
Obviously there was something wrong in the head of this lunatic, but it the victim did have a gun, would it have made a difference? Less guns or more guns seem to both have issues in actually stopping gun violence. So anyone have ideas on how to stop it?
That's right! God is so compassionate this baby was killed for his sake.
No Oscar, less guns in the hands of criminals lowers crime more guns in the hands of law abiding citizens also lowers crime and most of the time simply because it's a deterrence. There is only one real way to lower crime. All crime. Make it hurt! It's time to go after those who arm the criminals illegally. It's time to go after the violent criminals who kill and lock them up for life if you're against executing them. Simply keeping those who would repeat offend in prison where they belong will have a huge impact on lowering crime. We have the laws to do these things right now! And yet, we're sitting here watch a liberal administration push an even tougher anti gun agenda that impacts lawful citizens more then the criminals who are causing all the problems.
@ airborne - Like you stated.."all we've been hearing about".. well come to San Diego and check it out! NOTHING but Mexican gangs robbing, killing, shooting and raping! Sorry, but its the truth. The reality (that some don't want to admit) is that the media goes extra HARD when its involving Blacks or so-called gangs. Lots of crime by other races doesn't always make front page news. Unless its some sick azz White boy shooting up a school or movie theatre! And for the record...have you heard of MS-13?...let me enlighten you.... The MS-13 gang, aka Mara Salvatrucha 13, is one of the most violent, dangerous gangs in the United States – and one of the most organized. And their members ARENT Black!
@Airborne, sure that seems logical, but how would we go about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. Its so damn easy for a criminal to get a gun in this country.
on a different note: Question, would it seem ok to put thousands of military units into crime infested areas like Brazil did?
White boys shooting up a school or theater, are not gang members, nor do they do this EVERY SINGLE NIGHT OF THE YEAR, in the same streets.
Try again.
Oscar,
Thats the point entirely. You will not keep the guns out of the hands of criminals who want to use them to commit crimes. And adding more laws that do absolutely nothing to effect how criminals illegally get their guns will do absolutely nothing either. But the laws are already there to deal with the problem. Why is Bloomberg spending so many millions of his own money trying to get Dems elected in other states to support the Liberal agenda instead of putting it to good use in his own city to beef up law enforcement and come up with better ways to fight these criminals and gangs? Why is the majority of the Dem party doing spending countless 100's of millions of tax payer dollars to restrict it's citizens instead of helping police departments and cities counter this rise in crime? You know why? They don't fear the criminal element. They have no reason to. They do apperently fear an armed civilian population though since thats where their laws and bans are aimed.
lilmischargerfan,
Sorry to say, the black gangs are still body counts ahead of Mexican gangs in this country. Including m13!
"Why is Bloomberg spending so many millions of his own money trying to get Dems elected in other states to support the Liberal agenda instead of putting it to good use in his own city to beef up law enforcement and come up with better ways to fight these criminals and gangs?
Please, don't give me that "Liberal agenda" crap. And did you know the NYPD is larger and better armed than most national armies! The NRA's (not the Repubs who think the NRA represents gun owners) more guns, and more guns after that, and even more guns after that to support gun manufacture profits won't help solve violent gun crime.
Black people in this country were cast away the second they were freed from slavery. They were not trained in the ways to succeed in this country. Whites feared them, threatened them. All they saw was white man money; fancy cars, fur coats and other bling. So they thrive to have that without a true means of what real wealth is. Its make it or die trying as their leaders boast!
On the other side of the stick you have these white, paranoid, uneducated hill billies who think that "liberals" want to turn this country into a dictatorship and are doing so first by trying to take away our rights to bear arms. These people have never read, traveled, don't know other cultures and know of only God, Walmart and warfare. What these backwoods nuts don't realize is that this country is run by the Walmarts, Mcdonalds, and other big corporations and these guys really are out to enslave you. Control the diseases you get, the meds you take and the "digestible edibles" you eat.
Everyone needs to start reading some motherf&^*ing books on history and science!!!!
Black people have had the same opportunities to get an education and succeed in this country as white people for decades. The ones that want to make something of themselves and work hard do and are ostracized by their own. I sat side by side with black people in my schools who were being taught the exact same things that I was. No-one told them that they were not allowed to learn. No-one was trying to hold them down. It is the choices that they make that continue to hold them down. Choose to learn and you will go far, choose not to learn and you will fail.
Y'all are shooting the wrong people. Other gangs etc are not oppressing you!!! It is our "government". Ever notice how they tell how much money one has over another politician, and don't think DA, sherriff, chief of police, police commissioner don't have his hands in that pie.I'm tellin ya, your're shottin the wrong people.Other gangs aint doin nothin to you.Don't you think whitey loves it when they see another dead?
Time to send in Federal Troops or the Illinios National Guard and put that city under Marshall Law. This time they crossed line to the point of no return!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kbeasy, I agree with you 100 percent. If George Bush had invaded Chicago instead of Iraq, he would have found weapons of mass destructions, thousands of uneducated, low life thugs, carrying guns. We need to pray harder for the citizens of Chicago.
Ha ha ha... "Marshall Law," good one. Sort of like the Marshall Plan. Of course we know you mean "martial law."
This is very horrible and sad. Bless this baby's soul.
I don't care about the Fathers so-called "affiliations" or any of that other BS, that may be falsely reported by Chicago PD. These idiot wanna-be gang members shooting randomly need to be lined up and machine gunned! Chicago needs to call in the National Guard asap! Anyone, Black, White, Mexican, Asian or half breed walking or driving around in more than a set of 2's needs to be pulled over and searched! I don't care about their "rights" or them being harassed! This mess in Chicago needs to stop!
You are so right. Something drastic needs to happen to stop this out of control, random violents. I love me some Al Sharpton. But if he was to oppose your great solution, I will stand against him. And for Jesse Jackson, he's just like his son.
Yes, lets just throw out our rights. Why don't you burn the Constitution and the Bill of Rights while you're at it.
What rights would you have if you are DEAD?
Chicago, where criminals have free rein to gun down anyone the gang banger desires. Chicago needs some vigilantly justice to solve their problem.
Ban gangs, not guns. Don't ban the right for someone who is law abiding to protect themself and their family.
The source is not assault weapons- it's the mindsets.
ProFreedom, you are so right. Guns don't shoot people. People that use guns shoot people. If Obama was a leader and not just a follower, he would realize this. Outlaw the gangs and arrest anyone affiliated with a gang. Arrest enough people someone is bound to talk and reveal the leaders.
Yup, as long as gangs are allowed to reign freely, murders will continue to happen. Take away all the gang murders in Chicago, and you have a very peaceful city. If the mayor, governor, and president had a brain they would realize that.
as a liberal - im a little disgusted with the slant on this story - even with shootings down from last year a 6 year old was shot......way to play off the tragedy and minimize the inevitable argument about chicago and strict gun laws
stay classy msnbc - youre getting about as bad as foxnews.
i am glad however, you chose to mention gang activity, but im afraid there will be more emotive knee jerk calls for more gun laws than there will be for a way of combatting crime effectively (ie gang task squads, enforcement of laws on the books, zero tolerance etc)
its a sad story for sure - but im afraid this will be sensationalized to add fuel to the antigun movement.
i mean after all, its much easier to go after gun owners than it is to tackle the real problems - those solutions cost money.
It is a 6 month old that was shot...
I'm so sorry to the family for the loss of their beautiful baby. Rest in peace little one.
Some how I just envision Rahm Emmanuel haveing a meeting like the scene in Blazing Saddles. "We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs gentlemen!.... Hrrumph... Hrrumph"
Its a shame that a young innocent child must pay the ultimate price for the sins of the father. Very sad. Rest in peace little one. I hope they catch the scum bag and he tries to shot his way out.
Tom, one cannot blame this child's father for the actions of a low life thugs. What about Hydia Pendleton and so many other innocence people who were gunned down by thugs and yet their fathers had no affiliations to gang violence. Put the blame where it belongs on the person who pulled the trigger.
The story said he was gang affiliated. That being said, getting shot and shot at goes with the choice he made. Not so with the little one.
Tom, the CPD also stated that Hidya Pendlteon was gang affiliated, then the truth came out. This police department seems to label any black person that is a victim of gun violence as gang affiliated.
If Obama was smart he would be all over this story.
YAWN!!.. Why, so some idiots could comment that he should stay out of it??
You answered your own question, if Obummer was smart. Answer No....
A baby is dead because of a gun.
A beautiful baby is dead because of a lethal gun.
A beautiful, innocent baby is dead because of her gang-affiliated father and a lethal gun.
A beautiful, innocent, never-to-see-daylight-again baby is eternally dead because her feckless, gang-affiliated father was targeted by an f'in worthless gang...and a lethal gun.
Take away everything except the 'lethal gun' and that baby is probably still alive (knives and bats and such take longer to kill).
God forbid we take our guns away; let's sacrifice those beautiful babies instead. They don't vote.
I was waiting for someone to blame the gun!!! Criminals will always have guns... Geez, how about blaming the p.o.s gangbanging father? how about blaming the women who chose to breed with a gangbanger? how about getting out of the gang and ghetto before having a baby? If you live in a ghetto and are a gangbanger, DO NOT HAVE BABIES.
So tell me oh half-wit,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Why should 300,000,000 people be denied their God given Constitutional rights?
Why the hell can't you grow some balls and send a scumbag to jail????????
The problem is scumbags and their scumbag behavior. When you utterly fail to prosecute them for their crimes crap like this is rampant.
The gun is lethal,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,your ignorance of the problem is ASTOUNDING.
I am reminded that in the 20's and 30's Chicago was the center of gang violence and drive-by shootings with fully automatic weapons that ultimately formed public opinion on the use of these weapons by gangsters. This was the era of Al Capone and the St. Valentine's day massacre, Machine Gun Kelly, John Dillinger, Alvin Karpas, Pretty Boy Floyd, and gangster on gangster violence that sickened the entire nation.
Chicago has a long and sad history of gang violence. That history damaged innocent bystanders in the past and it damages innocent bystanders today.
One wonders what, if any, impact this horrible tragedy will ultimately have.
Homocides are down in Chicago because of the weather. It's been snowy and cold. Don't be a fool and think it's because the people have become friendly or the police have something to do with this.
This has gone too far! Killing babys is a savage and unhuman as you can get. The animals in the jungles of Africa are nicer than so called humans.
There should be a concerted effort to take out gang members before they are able to procreate. They are not killing each other fast enough.
Waynero, you are so right.
If anyone from Chicago or from any gang infested area is reading these articles, you are the key to ending gun violents in your COMMUNITY. If you know anyone who may be involved in gang activities and or carrying weapons of deadly consequences, REPORT IT. You or someone you love MAY BE THEIR NEXT VICTIM.
Chicago, just another #@#$ up liberal city controlled by Democrats...
Hey McCarthy, You did mean Gang violence, right? not gun violence? this is sad that the top cop is trying to blame guns and gun laws for this death. And is not taking his blame nor is he calling for real solutions to the gang problem. If they started an asault on the D's Buisnisses all over chicago, then the gang would give them the person responsible. When will these kids reallize that they are not men for being in this gangs but hoes. Hoes that are pimped out by the gang leaders they give money to and do the dirty work for.
What is so surprising? In New Orleans it happens often. As long as people think guns are the way to solve their differences it will continue. It has been happening since guns were invented and will never change. If you don't believe me just ask a politician or the NRA.
Evenbefore then
Oh yes, there was never any violence and no-one was ever murdered before guns were invented.
How long will it take for people to get sick and tired of these gangs reigning down terror and death onto the citizens? They need swift an absolute justice put on them. But there en-lies the problem. Their rights can't be trampled on, but they can trample all over everyone else's, even though it is illegal. Somedays you have to fight evil with evil. To hell with trying to rehabilitate these gang bangers. Charge, convict, put to death any gang member associated with a murder, no matter what age.
The number one problem is the liberal laws enacted over the last 30 years. No real justice for victims. No real deterrent to criminals, especially underage criminals. It's about time Americans wake up and get a backbone when it comes to real justice.
Blame scumbags,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
The problem is scumbags, not guns or knives or bats or clubs or whatever else the idiot left tries to blame for the behavior of scumbags.
Failure to arrest, prosecute and convict the human sewage that infests Chicago is the problem.
I noted in an earlier article related to this story, my sincere condolences to the family. It is against all rational thought for an child to die like this.
However, I also blame the parents of this child as well as the shooter. YOU Mr. and Mrs Watkins chose the life style you desired. Mrs. Watkins was shot several months ago. Did you not believe they would return?
This is the end result of your decision to live the life of criminal. I empathize with your loss, but it is a loss you helped produce.
A 6 month old? Seriously the gang bangers in Chicago are in need of some serious retaliation! They need to be put DOWN! Gang Bangers ARE TRASH!
Evil people will continue to do evil things. This happens on a daily basis around the world. How do you defend against evil people like this? I believe responsible concealed weapon carriers are the way forward to help society. You CANNOT rely on the government or law enforcers to be responsible or be in the right place at the right time otherwise you end up with a nanny state like the UK does. It DOESN’T work in the UK and it DOESN’T stop illegal firearm use.
Maybe the opposite can happen in these places like Chicago. Maybe all the gang bangers can kill themselves and reduce the gang population.....
MSNBC - Now the one designated gang-banger in Chicago that is literate will read this and they will catch up the killings this weekend!
Get a grip.
Sorry.... reading comprehension there is still a group exercise. It will "Take a Village" to read the entire article.
In lieu of flowers, send a donation to the National Rifle Association.