A 9-year-old girl named Serabi Medina lost her life in a tragic shooting incident.
The young girl was innocently playing on her scooter and savoring an ice cream treat on a Saturday evening, only to have her world shattered by a senseless act of violence perpetrated by her adult neighbor.
Court records reveal the heartbreaking details of the incident that unfolded in the Portage Park neighborhood, leaving Serabi's family and the entire community in grief and disbelief.
The 9-Year-Old Lost Her Life While Playing
Serabi Medina was fatally shot by a nearby resident named Michael Goodman, as per statements from Chicago officials.
The authorities have clarified that the Medina family had no previous connection with Goodman, whose residence is opposite Medina's home in Chicago's Portage Park area.
The devastating incident occurred when Goodman allegedly exited his dwelling, gun in hand, and shot Serabi in the head right before she could enter her building.
This horror unfolded in front of her father, who desperately tried to shield her. On that fateful Saturday, while the young girl played on her scooter outside their residence, her father was chatting with a couple of friends.
After one of them gave her some money for ice cream, Serabi went to the ice cream truck. When she returned, a gunshot rang out, and her father immediately instructed her to go inside.
But as she approached the entrance, Goodman allegedly emerged from his place, gun in hand, and advanced toward her. Her father, alarmed, shouted at Goodman and rushed to his daughter.
But before he could reach her, Goodman reportedly aimed and shot the girl, according to the account by Assistant State's Attorney Anne McCord during Goodman's bail hearing.
In a bid to stop the assailant, Serabi's father tackled Goodman. In the ensuing scuffle, the firearm went off, injuring Goodman in the eye.
Despite being promptly rushed to the hospital, young Serabi succumbed to her injuries. The traumatic incident was witnessed by the father's three friends.
Community Outcry and Unanswered Questions
Gun violence had earlier taken a toll on the family. In 2018, Serabi's mother tragically lost her life to a shooting in Chicago as she sat on a local street.
Following the devastating loss of her mother five years prior, Serabi deeply connected with her father, according to her cousin.
She was constantly by his side, and he became her pillar of strength, guiding her through life without her mother.
Friends, neighbors, and those who knew Serabi expressed their shock and sorrow, struggling to comprehend the motives behind such a heinous act.
According to Megan Kelley, a neighbor and friend of the victim's family, shared that Goodman had previously confronted the family over noise concerns.
She revealed that the alleged shooter had a history of complaining about children playing in the area, leaving the community perplexed by the extent of his actions.
Michael Goodman, 43, now faces first-degree murder charges in connection with Serabi Medina's death. He appeared in court, where a judge denied him bond.
Goodman's lawyer cited severe mental health issues, and an order for immediate psychiatric treatment was issued by the court.
The circumstances surrounding Goodman's mental state raise questions about his motives and the factors that led to this tragic incident.
As Chicago grapples with the loss of an innocent 9-year-old girl, Serabi Medina's memory serves as a painful reminder of the fragility of life.
The community mourns the loss of a bright young soul, taken far too soon by an act of violence that defies reason.
As investigators work to uncover the truth behind the tragedy, the city united in grief and a collective call for justice.
