Chicago Violence

‘Keep Your Children Close': 12-Year-Old Girl Shot Over Weekend Dies Days Later, Family Says

A 12-year-old girl who was one of two children shot in Chicago on Saturday died Wednesday afternoon, her family confirmed.

Kanari Gentry-Bowers was pronounced dead around 3:38 p.m., said Dawn Valenti, a spokesperson for the 12-year-old's family.

"We are appreciative of all of the thoughts and prayers we have received in the past several days," her family said in a statement released by Cook County Health and Hospitals System. "Please keep your children close and do whatever it takes to protect them from the senseless gun violence in our city.”

Gentry-Bowers was shot around 7:15 p.m. Saturday in the 1900 block of W. 57th St in the city's West Englewood neighborhood, authorities said. 

Kanari was playing with friends when gunfire erupted, according to police, who initially said she was struck in the head and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. 

Family members clarified on Sunday that she was shot in the right side of the neck, shattering her spine. 

Family members described her as "one of the sharpest kids you would know." 

Family members said Kanari was playing basketball on the playground at Henderson Elementary School when someone in a nearby car opened fire. [[413528743, C]]

Less than a half hour later, another young girl was critically wounded in a separate shooting on Chicago's South Side.

The second shooting occurred in the 6500 block of S. King Dr. in the city’s Parkway Gardens neighborhood, according to police.

Around 7:40 p.m., 11-year-old Takiya Holmes, was sitting in the back of a car when shots rang out, authorities said, striking her in the head.

She was pronounced dead Tuesday morning.

Antwan C. Jones, 19, was charged with her murder after turning himself in to police on Tuesday evening.

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