12-year-old girl dies after being shot while celebrating birthday with family

A 12-year-old girl who was shot Tuesday evening while out celebrating her 12th birthday with family in West Englewood has died.

The girl, Nyzireya Moore, was pronounced dead late Friday morning at Comer Children’s Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Tuesday evening, the child was riding in a car when someone on the street opened fire in the 2300 block of West 72nd Street, about a block from where she lived, authorities said. She was wounded in the back of the head and taken to the hospital.

Nyzireya was the 13th child younger than 17 shot and killed in Chicago so far this year.

Community activist Andrew Holmes Friday afternoon said the parents had been “hoping and looking for a miracle.

“They’re in shock that they lost their baby,” Holmes added. “The mother and father just wanted their child to heal up and be safe, but unfortunately the young lady succumbed to her injuries.”

The girl’s parents will donate her organs “because she was a very giving person,” Holmes said.

Shortly after the shooting, Holmes had said the girl had just turned 12 and was “fighting for her life.”

Police Supt. David Brown vowed on Wednesday to use the “full brunt of every resource we have” to catch the killer.

“This was heinous, reckless, senseless and the gangs involved — and you know who you are— we’re coming after you,” Brown said Wednesday.

Holmes said the girl’s family is looking for someone to come forward “and give up the individuals” responsible for the shooting. He implored those who live near the scene to look over any surveillance video for possible suspects.

The shooting occurred in CPD’s 8th District, which has seen a 29% increase in shootings this year compared to the same time last year, according to police data. Overall, crime is up 54% in the district, including more aggravated batteries, robberies, burglaries, thefts and motor vehicle thefts.