Four days after an 8-year-old girl was murdered on the South Side, a local anti-violence group announced a $10,000 reward for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the shooter.
Early Walker, founder of I’m Telling, Don’t Shoot, told reporters Friday that the cash reward would be “immediately dispersed if we get the correct information and we can get correct charges.”
Dajore Wilson was in an SUV with other members of her family near 47th Street and Union Avenue in Canaryville Monday evening when someone in another nearby car opened fire, killing the child and wounding two others. The shooting also triggered a crash that injured another person in the SUV.
“I met with the mom of this dear 8-year-old, and all she could say was she wants answers, and she deserves answers,” Walker said Friday. “She told me that her daughter was looking forward to her first day of school. Now, here it is, she’s planning a funeral. So I am urging anyone that knows anything, that’s watching this, do the right thing.”
Chicago Police Supt. David Brown earlier this week said that the shooting was prompted by an ongoing gang feud and Dajore was not the intended target. The CPD later released surveillance photos of a black Dodge Charger believed to be involved in the shooting.
Dajore was the sixth child younger than 10 to be shot to be shot and killed in Chicago since late June.
Jarrod Smith, commander of Area One detectives, said police have so far “made a lot of progress with the investigation,” but echoed the call for anyone with information on the shooting to come forward.
“These investigations work best when we get participation from the community,” Smith said. “It’s not just about the police department, it’s about all of us working together to solve these crimes.”