Chicago woman charged with murder in apparent random stabbing of 7-year-old girl

CHICAGO - A Chicago woman remains hospitalized and detained after prosecutors outlined new details about the stabbing death of a 7-year-old girl on the South Side over the weekend.

Apparent random attack

What we know:

First-degree murder charges were approved for 48-year-old Shavon Gayden, who is accused in the death of Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon.

According to police, family members and prosecutors, the 7-year-old was walking with her 17-year-old sister in the 8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue around 11:55 a.m. Saturday after leaving a phone store near 86th Street.

Prosecutors said Gayden was inside the store, where she threatened a worker. She then left the business, walking south on Cottage Grove Avenue toward the victim and her older sister. She allegedly removed a knife from her bag and ran toward them, lunging toward the 17-year-old.

The older sister ducked and moved away, prosecutors said. Gayden then allegedly grabbed the 7-year-old and stabbed her repeatedly in the back in front of bystanders.

The girl was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she died.

Prosecutors said multiple people chased Gayden after the stabbing. At least one person allegedly struck her, causing her to fall to the ground unconscious. She suffered a head injury and was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital, where she remains.

Investigators said a knife with the victim’s blood was found inside Gayden’s bag, along with additional knives.

What they're saying:

The girl’s extended family gathered at the location where she died. Her name was spelled out in candy on the sidewalk as family and community members mourned.

Family friend Tiger Thompson said the girl’s older sister returned to the scene to seek a sense of closure.

"The daughter who was with the younger daughter. She had to come back here and get closure, although there’ll never really be any closure behind it," Thompson said. "But it’s something to help her soul heal. The rest of the family decided to join, and it became a nice event."

Eighth Ward Ald. Michelle Harris said she could not imagine what the 17-year-old witnessed.

"The 17-year-old sibling, I can’t imagine what she’s going through," Harris said. "She’s right there with baby sister. It’s a nightmare, what I imagine is a nightmare."

Harris met with Eddimar’s mother to offer community support.

Neighbor Nettsi Hardy Rogers said she felt compelled to give the girl’s mother cash.

"It’s sad, it’s sad," Rogers said. "I urge our community to come together. This family needs our help and our support."

Harris called the stabbing a heinous act and thanked the bystanders who intervened.

"My community is horrified," Harris said. "This was a heinous act. We are praying for family, we offer condolences. The community is going through a mourning process in dealing with this."

Thompson said the gathering showed the community’s willingness to support the family.

"It’s community coming together to support each other," Thompson said. "No matter who you are, where you’re from, no matter what the case may be, the community came together to make it happen and do what needed to be done."

What's next:

Gayden was unable to appear in court Monday for her detention hearing. She was ordered to remain detained at the hospital until her next hearing, which is set for Wednesday.

Arrest history

Chicago Police Department records show several previous arrests for Gayden between 2016 and 2024. The listed charges include domestic battery, aggravated battery involving a transit employee and aggravated assault involving a peace officer, firefighter or emergency worker.

Crime and Public SafetyChathamNews