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Jonylah Watkins


Mame Biram Diouf

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The baby who was shot TWICE: Tragedy

of Chicago girl killed in hail of bullets as father changed her diaper - just months after she survived being shot in her mother's womb

 

  • Jonylah Watkins, age six months, was shot in her liver, her lungs, her bowel and her leg
  • Father Jonathan Watkins was changing her diaper outside when the gunman attacked
  • Mr Watkins was also shot and is in serious-to-critical condition
  • Baby survived an attack on her mother Judy when she was still in the womb
  • Mrs Watkins was eight months pregnant when gunman opened fire in street and shot in the her in knee

A six-month-old baby girl died this morning after she was shot five times in Chicago during an attack on her father - just months after her mother was shot and wounded while she was still in the womb.

The murder of little Jonylah Watkins - who was the victim of gun violence twice before she was even a year old - has horrified even a city where shootings have become commonplace. The news sent shock waves throughout the country. 

Jonylah was hit in her lungs, her liver, her leg, her shoulder and her bowel when a gunman opened fire in broad daylight on Monday in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago as her father Jonathan Watkins changed her diaper. 

Mr Watkins, 29, an alleged gang member, was the target of the attack. He was shot twice, but survived and is in critical condition at the hospital.

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Despite the shocking crime, neighbors are refusing to cooperate with police.

'We don't have one individual who's stepping up to help us,' McCarthy said.

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The shooting on Monday comes months after her mother Judy, 20, was hit by a gunman when she was pregnant with Jonylah. 

Her family said Mrs Watkins was hit in the knee when she was eight months pregnant as she walked home with a group of women. 

She was at work at McDonald's when her daughter was fatally wounded on Monday.

In January and February this year, 57 people were killed in Chicago - most of them victims of gang-related shootings on the south side of the city. 

 

Chicago gained national attention when its murders for January spiked to 43, the highest rate in years - making the city even more dangerous than when mobster Al Capone ruled the streets. 

 

In February killings dropped to 14 for the month - the lowest since 1957.

 

 

 

Most people outside of Chicago have never heard of Jonylah Watkins, the 6-month old girl who was shot five times and killed while her father was changing her diaper.

 

Lupe Fiasco wants to change that. He's using his latest song, "Jonylah Forever," to commemorate the young victim and call attention to Chicago violence. The Windy City has witnessed 62 killings so far in 2013, according to the Chicago Tribune.

 

"This is why I rant! This is why I speak out! This is why I sound preachy in my songs! I have no choice! #ChiViolenceMustEnd," Lupe tweeted.

 

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Early this morning (March 21), seven people were injured by gunfire at Chicago, Illinois' Mr. G's Entertainment Center. The Southside venue was playing host to an album release party, and performances by local sensations Lil Mouse and King Samson. At least one gunman has been reported to have began firing after a fight broke out. According to The Chicago Tribune, police are investigating additional suspects. There were no fatalities reported.

Five of the reported seven victims, with ages ranging between 21 and 36, were hospitalized after the event. On behalf of King Samson, the rapper's manager, Justin Lewis, released the following statement: "[King Samson] does not promote violence, we fight against violence." Lewis added that the artist was encouraging a united, peaceful Chicago, and arrived and left from the event, following his performance.

The Tribune added that previously, Lil Mouse, as a 13 year-old, had been nationally recognized for appearing in a video brandishing a gun. The video, "Get Smoked," approached 3 million views on YouTube. Mouse or his management have yet to release a statement.

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