A 6-month-old baby has died in a Chicago hospital after being shot five times while her father, the intended target in the shooting, was shot several times and now remains in critical condition.
Jonylah Watkins was shot along with her father Jonathan Watkins, 29, in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood Monday afternoon, police confirmed this morning, in the latest death in the city's escalating gang violence dilemma. Baby Jonylah was transported to Comer Children's Hospital where she underwent five hours of surgery, according to ABC affiliate WLS.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed the baby's death early Tuesday.
Jonathan Watkins is recovering from his wounds at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Garry McCarthy, Chicago's police chief, said that Watkins underwent several surgeries and is in critical but stable condition.
Officer Mike Sullivan with the Chicago police department told ABCNews.com that they gunman walked up and fired at Watkins and his child at 12:48 p.m. Monday, then fled in a waiting car.
"He walked up and ran back into a car," he said. "He fled through an adjacent lot to a blue minivan."
Investigators were searching for the vehicle but do not have any leads, Sullivan said.
Jonathan Watkins has known gang affiliations, according to Sullivan. Investigators believe that the shooting may be gang-related.
