7-year-old girl shot on Christmas ‘responding a little bit,’ activist says as $1,000 reward offered

A $1,000 reward is being offered to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect who left a 7-year-old girl critically wounded in a Christmas morning shooting in Brighton Park.

Andrew Holmes, a community activist who is putting up the reward money, noted Thursday night that the young girl is “not out of the red.”

“She’s been responding a little bit but it’s just going to take a little time to get her full strength,” Holmes added.

Gunfire erupted about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday outside a home in the 3500 block of South Washtenaw, piercing a living room window adorned with Christmas decorations and striking the girl in the torso as she played with her cousins, according to Chicago police.

She was rushed to Stroger Hospital and has since underwent surgery, according to Holmes, who noted that her mother and other family members have remained by her side.

“Coming out of surgery, the first person you wanna see is your momma,” he said. “The most important thing is that they’re around her and she’s in the healing process now.”

A 38-year-old man struck in the leg during the attack later showed up at St. Anthony Hospital, police said. He was later transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital after his condition was stabilized.

The intended target of the shooting was a 38-year-old man known to law enforcement as a convicted felon and registered gun offender, police said. Police would not confirm if the intended target was the man shot.

The family of the girl, who lives in suburban Hanover Park and was visiting relatives in the area, issued a statement Wednesday asking for privacy and expressing gratitude “for the outpouring of love and support.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot offered prayers for the girl and her family and promised police would work to find the shooter.

“As we gather for the holiday, we renew our commitment to protect our children from harm,” the mayor tweeted. “To the family, CPD will do everything possible to bring the perpetrator to justice. As a city, you have our love and support.”

No one was in custody Thursday night, police said.

Anyone with information about the shooting should call 1-800-U-TELL-US to qualify for the reward.