A seven-year-old girl named Edi Mari Paola Hernandez Chacon was fatally stabbed on a Chicago sidewalk by Shavon Gayden, 48, in broad daylight on Saturday morning. Gayden is accused of stabbing the child multiple times; she has a history of violent offenses and currently faces first-degree murder charges. The incident sparked community outrage, with Alderwoman Michelle Harris and Mayor Brandon Johnson issuing statements condemning the violence and offering support to the victim's family.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Saturday around noon, a 7-year-old girl, Edimari Hernandez Chacon, was fatally stabbed by an unknown woman while walking down the street in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago. The suspect approached and attacked the child multiple times with a sharp object to her back. Bystanders intervened, detaining the assailant until police arrived. Surveillance footage showed witnesses running to help after the attack. Edimari was rushed to Comer Children's Hospital, where she later died.
The suspect, identified as Shavon Gayden, 48, has been charged with first-degree murder and is in police custody. She had no known relationship with the victim and no apparent motive for the attack was provided by authorities at the time of reporting. A large emergency response ensued, including a significant police presence on Cottage Grove Avenue.
Written for “Stabbing Of Seven Year Old In Chicago” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 57881 · logged 2026-10-05
A seven-year-old girl has been stabbed to death in Chicago by a stranger in broad daylight, police say.
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police → stab → daylight
Edi Mari Paola Hernandez Chacon was walking down a sidewalk with her older sister on Saturday morning when Shavon Gayden, 48, approached and stabbed the girl multiple times in the back, cops say, according to The Chicago Sun Times.
uncertain
cops → walk → Times
A bystander chased Gayden down and knocked her unconscious by hitting her, according to the outlet.
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bystander → chase → outlet
A large crowd of witnesses formed around the little girl as she lay bleeding out on the street.
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she → form → street
The girl succumbed to her injuries and died at Comer Children's hospital, according to ABC7.
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girl → succumb → ABC7
The woman was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held in police custody.
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woman → arrest → custody
Police have not identified a motive in the stabbing and the investigation remains ongoing.
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investigation → identify → stabbing
Gayden, the stabbing suspect, has five previous arrests on record since 2016: domestic battery, aggravated battery towards a transit employee and aggravated assault of a peace officer, Chicago Police records show.
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records → have → officer
The woman is expected to appear in court on Monday, according to The Chicago Sun Times.
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woman → expect → Times
Edi Mari Paola Hernandez was stabbed to death on Saturday.
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Hernandez → stab → Saturday
Police are investigating the incident
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Police → investigate → incident
My daughter's death should not be left like this, there must be justice for my little girl.
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death → leave → girl
She wasn't bothering anyone,' the girl's mother said in a statement to the press
Edi Mari was seen on security footage walking hand-in-hand with her older sister just moments before the gruesome stabbing at around 11.55am
Shavon Gayden, 48, stands accused of stabbing the seven-year-old girl to death.
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Gayden → bother → death
She was charged with first-degree murder
'
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She → charge → murder
My daughter's death should not be left like this,' Estefany Hernandez said in Spanish to ABC7, 'there must be justice for my little girl.
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Hernandez → leave → girl
She wasn't bothering anyone.'
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She → bother → anyone
A vigil was held for Hernandez the day after the little girl died in which community members returned to the intersection to honor her life.
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members → hold → life
Alderwoman Michelle Harris of Chicago's 8th Ward released a statement: 'I am deeply saddened by the senseless stabbing of a 7 year old child in our neighborhood.
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I → release → neighborhood
My heart goes out to her family, friends, and everyone who is affected by this horrific incident.
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who → go → incident
No child should ever have to experience violence or fear while simply walking down the sidewalk.
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child → have → sidewalk
I also want to recognize and thank the bystanders who quickly intervened—helping to detain the suspect and get assistance on the way.
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who → want → way
Their quick actions may have prevented further harm.'
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actions → prevent → harm
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also acknowledged the tragedy in a statement Sunday: 'My deepest condolences are with this little girl’s family and loved ones, and the entire Chatham community as we grieve this devastating loss.
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we → acknowledge → loss
We are praying for them and for everyone impacted by this horrifying tragedy.'
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We → pray → tragedy
The Daily Mail has sought to ascertain whether Gayden has appointed legal representation and contacted Cook County Sheriff's Office for comment.
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Gayden → seek → comment
The Aporia
