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EAST ST. LOUIS, IL ( KPLR ) -
A five year old little girl is the latest victim of gun violence in East St. Louis. Police say she was shot by a stray bullet in broad daylight around 1 p.m. Tuesday, as she was leaving Broadway Market with an adult. It happened in a neighborhood where police were already on high alert.
Police said around 6 p.m. doctors reported the girl to be in critical condition with a bullet wound to her neck. Police believe the bullet remained lodged in her head. They said it was possible she would undergo surgery Monday night.
"This is outrageous," says East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks. He says it is time for people everywhere to be outraged about rampant gun crime, not just in his community.
Ten days before the five year old was shot, three young women were shot and killed in a convenience store parking lot. Two children in their car survived the shooting.
Police say Monday afternoon, three men argued in the street near Broadway and Division. One of them went into a unit in a nearby housing project, returned with a gun, and fired at least five shots. The child, leaving the market at Broadway and 15th, was hit by a stray bullet.
"The guns need to stay at home," says Parks.
After the triple murder, the mayor announced a crime crackdown in the most crime-ridden areas of East St. Louis and Broadway at 15th is one of the targets.
Officers from multiple departments are on increased patrol in these neighborhoods. Witnesses could tell after the shooting.
"The police were out here pretty fast," said a man who works in the market who did not want his name revealed. "It happened and it felt like it was a minute after, you know."
Illinois State Police Jim Morissey said one East St. Louis officer even heard the shots. He radioed to other officers.
"Within minutes there were officers from East St. Louis, the Auto Theft Task Force, and Illinois State Police, which was conducting a violent crime suppression detail in this area. They were all here. A strong police presence on the streets will reduce crime and help solve crime when it occurs. I mean within a matter of minutes you had a possible suspect identified."
Morissey says the suspect is in his late teens. Detectives believe he is the shooter, but they hope surveillance video from the market and the housing project confirm that as well as lead them to other suspects.
The mayor hopes this is a call to action for his community and others. After the triple murder, the city planned a forum for Monday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the New Horizon Community Church. The goal is to find a way to stop the violence. Representatives from the US Justice Department, US Attorney's office, Major Case Squad and other agencies will be there.
"In East St. Louis, we're so much better than this, and we need to be able to show it," he says.
Police said around 6 p.m. doctors reported the girl to be in critical condition with a bullet wound to her neck. Police believe the bullet remained lodged in her head. They said it was possible she would undergo surgery Monday night.
"This is outrageous," says East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks. He says it is time for people everywhere to be outraged about rampant gun crime, not just in his community.
Ten days before the five year old was shot, three young women were shot and killed in a convenience store parking lot. Two children in their car survived the shooting.
Police say Monday afternoon, three men argued in the street near Broadway and Division. One of them went into a unit in a nearby housing project, returned with a gun, and fired at least five shots. The child, leaving the market at Broadway and 15th, was hit by a stray bullet.
"The guns need to stay at home," says Parks.
After the triple murder, the mayor announced a crime crackdown in the most crime-ridden areas of East St. Louis and Broadway at 15th is one of the targets.
Officers from multiple departments are on increased patrol in these neighborhoods. Witnesses could tell after the shooting.
"The police were out here pretty fast," said a man who works in the market who did not want his name revealed. "It happened and it felt like it was a minute after, you know."
Illinois State Police Jim Morissey said one East St. Louis officer even heard the shots. He radioed to other officers.
"Within minutes there were officers from East St. Louis, the Auto Theft Task Force, and Illinois State Police, which was conducting a violent crime suppression detail in this area. They were all here. A strong police presence on the streets will reduce crime and help solve crime when it occurs. I mean within a matter of minutes you had a possible suspect identified."
Morissey says the suspect is in his late teens. Detectives believe he is the shooter, but they hope surveillance video from the market and the housing project confirm that as well as lead them to other suspects.
The mayor hopes this is a call to action for his community and others. After the triple murder, the city planned a forum for Monday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the New Horizon Community Church. The goal is to find a way to stop the violence. Representatives from the US Justice Department, US Attorney's office, Major Case Squad and other agencies will be there.
"In East St. Louis, we're so much better than this, and we need to be able to show it," he says.
