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CHICAGO (CBS) ― Four gang members now face charges in the Labor Day murder of a 10-year-old girl in the South Chicago neighborhood.

As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, investigators in the slaying of Nequiel Fowler said they had productive leads from the start, and now four alleged gang members have been charged with murder and attempted murder. 


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Luis Pena, 20, of the 10800 block of South Avenue B; Joseph Chico, 23, of the 11400 block of South Champlain Avenue; Raymond Jones, 24, of the 8700 block of South Escanaba Avenue; and Antoine Lacy, 25, of the 22400 block of South Yates Avenue in Sauk Village were each charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder, according to police News Affairs.

A judge ordered two of them held without bond, and set bond at $1 million dollars each for the others.

CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports this isn't the first time parents and priests have had to come together to protest gun violence.

"We can't sit silent," said Fr. Michael Pfleger. "We can't shake our heads while children are dying."

Nequiel was shot while walking in the 8700 block of South Exchange with her 5-year-old sister, Valerie Williams, who is blind. The shots were fired from a gangway on the block, and pierced the young girl's chest, family said Tuesday, as she knelt down to tie Valerie's shoelace.

Nequiel bled to death in front of neighbors and her younger sister, who stood just feet away, holding on to a gate near the gangway.

Witnesses also said that when Valerie emerged from behind the gate, she felt around for her sister, ultimately falling to her knees by Nequiel's side and feeling around her face.

Nequiel was shot in front of Ade Benco's home – he heard the shots ring out.

"And I look out my window and I hear little girl scream," Benco said.

That memory is with him, but he and others take some comfort in knowing four men are in custody and charged with Nequiel's killing.

Nequiel was not the intended target of the shooting. Witnesses said they heard someone shout gang slogans before the gunfire.

Officials say a gang on Exchange Avenue typically fights with another on Escanaba. There's an ally in between.

"The gangs often shoot at each other through gangways stemming from that alley," Assistant State's Attorney Maria McCarthy said.

That was apparently the case Monday.

According to prosecutors, Luis Pena had an argument with a rival, and told fellow gang members Antoine Lacy and Joe Chico that he was going to shoot the rival.

McCarthy said Pena used a gun Raymond Jones was holding for Lacy, whose attorney spoke with CBS 2.

"At this point it is a circumstantial case. There is no direct evidence of Mr. Lacy's guilt," Joshua Kutnick said.

On Wednesday night, demonstrators with the group CeaseFire held a prayer vigil in the neighborhood where Nequiel was shot. They urged lawmakers to increase funding for CeaseFire, which works to curb crime by working with gangs in the community. Police said that all four suspects belong to the same gang.

"These are young babies that deserve to live! These are young babies that deserve to go to school, not to duck and dodge a bullet!" a CeaseFire activist said.

Some of the children who joined the CeaseFire vigil said they saw Nequiel dying on the sidewalk.

"We're here for those who suffer in fear of being shot in their community," Pastor Robin Hood of CeaseFire said.

"This is not a war zone," Ameena Matthews said. "This is where taxpayers live, where kids go to school."

Nequiel, who attended Arnold Mireles Elementary, was the second young girl to be killed in two days on Chicago's streets. Eternity Gaddy, 13, was shot and killed overnight Monday outside her aunt's house in Humboldt Park.

A 16-year-old boy also was shot and killed over the weekend while playing basketball at a Morgan Park neighborhood park.

CBS 2's Joanie Lum and Kristyn Hartman contributed to this report.

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