Tiera Whalum witnessed a brazen attack Saturday morning as Eddimar Hernandez Chacon, 7, was stabbed multiple times while walking with her sister. Despite CPR efforts, the girl died, rattling the Chatham neighborhood. Shavon Gayden, 48, has been charged with first-degree murder.
Court records reveal a history of violent offenses and mental health struggles. Gayden had prior domestic violence charges dropped in the past decade. In 2024, she pleaded guilty to aggravated battery for threatening a bus driver.
In 2025, she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery for striking a police officer. A warrant was issued in February 2025 after she violated probation. She was released from the homeless shelter case less than two months after her arrest.
Christine Gayden, her mother, cited mental health challenges. The attack has renewed debate over Chicago's violent crime, with Mayor Brandon Johnson campaigning on safety as the city approaches a 60-year low in homicides. President Trump again cited a "violent crime wave," though he did not mention the girl's death.
Roderick Sawyer, a longtime Chatham resident, called the violence random and egregious.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing