The past seven days have proven to be deadly for several Chicago teenagers who were critically injured or, in some cases, killed by gunfire.
The past seven days have proven to be deadly for several Chicago teenagers who were critically injured or, in some cases, killed by gunfire. Most recently, 15 year-old Taccara Swain, who would start her sophomore year at Percy Julian High School next month, was shot in the head Wednesday while walking home with her two cousins in the 11000 block of South Normal Avenue at about 8 p.m. Chicago police said she was caught in crossfire as opposing gang members exchanged gunfire. As shots rang out, Swain bent down to shield her 2-year-old cousin from harm but was struck multiple times. Police had no suspects in custody as of Friday. A spokesperson for the family told the Defender that Swain remains in critical condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after having surgery. The family hopes a $5,000 reward offered by the Faith Community of St. Sabina will bring those responsible to justice. Swain was shot in the head. She underwent surgery and is recovering at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. No one is in custody, police said. Seventeen-year-old Justin Daniels did not survive being shot. He died Aug. 8 after being shot once in the forehead in an apparent robbery-gone-bad, according to Chicago police. Daniels graduated from Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep High School in June and was headed for college this month. But instead of his parents throwing him a going away party, they are preparing his homegoing service. The motive, according to police, was robbery. Dennis Davis, 16, has confessed to shooting Daniels and is being held without bond at Cook County Jail on first-degree murder charges. Davis reportedly told police he was trying to rob Daniels of his 2001 Subaru Impreza automobile. The pair met at a mutual friend’s birthday party in the South Shore community on the South Side. Davis asked Daniels if he could give him and his cousin a ride to his car and Daniels agreed, police said. The cousin, who was sitting in the front seat, has not been charged. According to Davis’ confession, his intent all along was to rob Daniels of his car. As he rode in the backseat, he pulled out a handgun, placed it to Daniels head and ordered him to give up everything he had, according to police reports. But before Daniels could respond he was shot once in the right forehead. Defender Staff Writer Kathy Chaney contributed to this report. ______ Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.