Woman charged with first-degree murder in fatal stabbing of 7-year-old girl in Chicago

A woman has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a 7-year-old girl in Chicago, police announced. Shavon Gayden, 48, was accused of stabbing the child multiple times in the back while she was walking along a sidewalk in the Chatham neighborhood on Saturday morning. Bystanders chased down the suspect and apprehended her, while police cordoned off the area with tape afterward.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that the victim, identified as Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon, died at Comer Children's Hospital. The child was seen walking hand-in-hand with an older female when she was attacked, according to a security photo from a nearby business. However, it remains unclear if there was any relationship between the attacker and the girl.

Gayden, who is originally from Chicago, was to appear for a hearing on Monday but was hospitalized and did not show up. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening. The prosecutor's office has assigned Matthew Hendrickson to represent Gayden, but the office declined to comment further on the case. Attempts to contact Gayden's family were unsuccessful.