Death of teen who had asthma attack after shooting ruled homicide

The death of a 16-year-old girl, who suffered an asthma attack after witnessing a fatal shooting at a party in the South Side Back of the Yards neighborhood in July, has been ruled a homicide.

The gunfire erupted following a dispute over a curbside parking spot in the 800 block of West 50th Place at 12:18 a.m. July 28, according to Chicago Police.

Two women were holding a parking spot for a friend, who was circling the block, when a man pulled up and opened fire after a brief confrontation over the spot, the Sun-Times previously reported.

Denzel M. Childs, 25, was shot in the neck, head and chest; and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:20 a.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Childs’ home address was not known.

Kayana Q. Armond, 34, was shot in the neck and was also pronounced dead at the scene at 12:34 a.m., authorities said. She lived in the 10900 block of South Vernon.

A 21-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the left hand and was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, while a 25-year-old woman was taken to Stroger Hospital with gunshot wounds to the back. Both of their conditions stabilized, police said.

Jessica Williams, 16, witnessed the shooting and suffered an asthma attack, authorities said. Williams, who lived in the 12000 block of South State Street, was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:05 a.m.

An autopsy found she died of bronchial asthma and stress associated with the gunshots fired into a crowd, according to the medical examiner’s office. Her death was ruled a homicide.

The shooting happened in the midst of a block party attended by about 100 people. They were celebrating the life of Jessica Williams’ cousin, Shondell Williams. Relatives said he was mixed up in gangs when he was shot to death three years ago at 24 on the same block.