The Chicago Tribune has reported on February 12, 2013 that 2 young men have been charged with Hadiya Pendleton's killing. Last month, the student who had song at the United States Inauguration was gunned down while leaving school.
On Feb 9, Michael Ward, 18 and Kenneth Williams, 20 was charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery. Apparently, they believed that the group of students Hadiya was with, contained a rival gang member who had shot suspect Williams in July of 2012.
Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says that Williams refused to cooperate against the person who shot him and therefore he was released.
Apparently Ward, the other suspect was out on probation for a gun violation. McCarthy said, "And if mandatory minimums existed in the state of Illinois, Michael Ward would not have been on the street to commit this heinous act."
The 2 suspects became suspects once police reaized that they drove the same type of car that was seen near the scene of the shooting. Then, neighborhood convicts pointed the finger at them. Ward confessed but Williams maintains his innocence.
First Lady, Michelle Obama attended Hadiya's funeral last week. The president will be in Chicago to discuss the cities overwhelming violence on friday.
Read more details about what happened to Hadiya here: http://www.examiner.com/article/honor-student-murdered-days-after-performing-at-obama-s-inaugural-celebration
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