Chicago, Illinois — A 7-year-old girl was fatally stabbed while walking hand-in-hand with her older sister on a Chicago sidewalk, authorities said, in a shocking attack that has left her family and community demanding answers.
Shavon Gayden, 48, was taken into custody shortly after the Saturday stabbing and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Eddimar Paola Hernández Chacón.
The attack happened shortly before noon in the 8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Police Say Girl Was Attacked Without Warning
According to police, Gayden approached Eddimar as she walked along the sidewalk with her older sister. Authorities allege that Gayden pulled out a sharp object and attacked the child.
“The offender approached from the south and, unprovoked, produced a knife and began stabbing the victim,” officers wrote in a police report.
Witnesses quickly intervened after the stabbing and detained Gayden until police arrived.
Gayden was reportedly injured during the confrontation and taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries before being placed into police custody.
Investigators later recovered two knives from Gayden’s purse, while another knife believed to have been used in the attack was found between the location of the stabbing and the area where Gayden was subdued.
Child Dies Despite Emergency Efforts
Eddimar was seriously injured in the attack and taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital.
Medical staff pronounced her dead at 1:01 p.m., according to reports.
Officers who arrived at the scene found the girl bleeding on the sidewalk as a crowd gathered around her. Police applied pressure to her wounds while waiting for an ambulance.
An ambulance arrived roughly 10 minutes later, and officers escorted the vehicle to the children’s hospital.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly showed Eddimar walking hand-in-hand with her older sister shortly before the attack. Additional footage showed people rushing toward the scene after the stabbing.
Bystanders Chased and Subdued Suspect
Several people reportedly chased Gayden after the attack and helped keep her at the scene until officers arrived. According to local reports, one bystander struck Gayden with jumper cables, knocking her down before other people subdued her.
“He whacked her with it,” a witness said, describing the confrontation. “She fell, he whacked her again. Then they just started dropping the hammers on her.”
Police ultimately took Gayden into custody after the confrontation. The circumstances surrounding the altercation between Gayden and the bystanders remain part of the investigation.
Family Remembers Eddimar as a Happy Child
Eddimar’s family, friends and community members gathered Sunday for a vigil at the location where she was killed. Those who knew the young girl remembered her as a happy child who enjoyed drawing and playing with her siblings.
Family members also recalled how she would wait by the window for her parents to return home from work. Her mother, Estefany Hernandez, called for justice following her daughter’s death.
“My daughter’s death should not be left like this,” Hernandez said. “There must be justice for my little girl. She wasn’t bothering anyone.”
Police Have Not Announced a Motive
Authorities have not released a possible motive for the stabbing.
Ald. Michelle Harris said Gayden had allegedly been involved in an altercation with employees at a nearby wireless store before the deadly attack. Police have not said whether that incident was connected to Eddimar’s killing.
“No child should ever have to experience violence or fear while simply walking down the sidewalk,” Harris said.
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She also thanked the bystanders who intervened after the attack and helped detain the suspect.
Suspect Has Previous Criminal Cases
Gayden is scheduled for a detention hearing Monday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
Court records reviewed by local reporters show that Gayden pleaded guilty in November 2024 to aggravated battery of a CTA bus driver and received two years of probation.
She was arrested again the following month on misdemeanor battery and assault charges. She later pleaded guilty to those charges in July 2025 and received court supervision.
Records also reportedly show that Gayden had an active arrest warrant dating to February 2025 after she failed to appear for a status hearing related to the earlier probation case. The warrant remained active when she was arrested following Saturday’s stabbing.
The investigation into Eddimar’s death remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced additional details about the circumstances leading up to the attack.
Eddimar’s family is now mourning the loss of a 7-year-old child whose life was cut tragically short. Share your thoughts and condolences for her family in the comments below.
