4-Year-Old Girl Shot in Head During Prom Party in West Englewood

Authorities said shots rang out at about 8 p.m. near 70th and Justine streets

A 4-year-old girl, who was among three children shot outside a prom celebration in the West Englewood neighborhood Friday evening, was upgraded to serious condition Sunday morning following surgery.

The girl, identified by family as Jacele Johnson, was sitting inside a car outside the party when somebody drove by and fired shots, a cousin of Jacele's told NBC Chicago. The incident happened at about 8 p.m. near West 70th and South Justine streets.

Jacele was transported to University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, where she underwent surgery for the gunshot wound.

A 17-year-old boy, who is Johnson's cousin, and a 15-year-old girl were also struck by the gunfire. The boy was hit in the the chest and suffered a graze wound to the neck. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where his condition stabilized. The girl was shot in the forehead while standing on the sidewalk and transported to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, where her condition also stabilized.

"This has to stop," a neighbor, Erika Higgins, said. "They always shoot the wrong person."

Jacele's mother told NBC Chicago the family was planning to move to Minneapolis on Tuesday to escape the violence of Chicago.

The gunfire came on an evening when family and faith members gathered at events around the city to kick off a "Summer of Faith and Action" and promote a peaceful summer. Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended one event at the Metropolitan Apostolic Church on the 4100 block of South King Drive.

Four other people were shot on Friday, including a man shot about 45 minutes before the West Englewood shooting.

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