So Sad: Vigil Held For Jaslyn Adams, The 7-Year-Old Fatally Shot Six Times Outside Chicago McDonald’s
Jaslyn Adams, say her name.
Even as Black people basked in a moment of relief and hope after Derek Chauvin was convicted on all charges in the murder of George Floyd, hearts were still heavy this week with the news of a Chicago shooting.
Jaslyn Adams was in a car with her father Jontae Adams at a McDonald’s drive-thru Sunday at approximately 4:20 p.m. when their car was riddled with bullets, with an estimated 50 gunshots fired. Jaslyn, 7, was hit six times. Her father was also shot and remains in the hospital in serious condition.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that authorities believe the shooting was gang-related and less than three hours later, two people were shot in their car at a Popeyes in Humboldt Park, reportedly in a connected instance of violence.
An admittedly “heartbroken” and “incredibly frustrated” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is now calling for federal gun control legislation.
“Folks, we are living in madness if we don’t step up and deal with this problem. So yes, I’m very satisfied with what our police superintendent and the police department are doing in an impossible environment where we got to have help,” Lightfoot said. “We’ve got to actually hold people accountable who are wreaking havoc in our streets, the fact that we have gone now 13 months and we don’t have criminal trials in Cook County,” Lightfoot said.
A vigil was held at the McDonald’s where Jaslyn who was nicknamed “Pinky” died.
Around 100 people released pink balloons in honor of the late first-grader (let that sink in, a FIRST GRADER)and free Happy Meals were passed out to honor the child’s affinity for McDonald’s.
While attendees held “Don’t Shoot” and “Please Stop The Violence” signs, community leaders urged those involved to come forward.
“Perhaps they did not intend to kill a child, but they did,” Rev. Marshall Hatch said. “So that person needs to be brought in by anyone who knows him.”
“You pumped six and a half bullets in that baby. That don’t make you a man. That don’t make you a gangster! Something wrong with you,” said community activist Andrew Holmes.
This whole case is so sickeningly sad. R.I.P. Jaslyn and condolences to her family.
Police are searching for leads. Anyone with information is told to contact 1-800-U-TELL-US or by messaging CPD’s text line at 274637.
