Arrests made in shooting death of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton
Two men have been charged in the shooting death of a 15-year-old honors student who danced for President Obama during his Inauguration last month.
The two men in custody, Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth Williams, 20, are violent gang members who mistook Hadiya Pendleton’s group of friends for members of a rival gang, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Police took Ward and Williams into custody just a day after First Lady Michelle Obama attended Hadiya’s funeral in Chicago.
Ward confessed to police that he and Williams mistook Pendleton’s friends for gang members who shot and wounded Williams last July, police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said at a news conference Monday night, according to The Tribune.
Hadiya was fatally shot as she and a group of friends sought cover from the rain in Vivian Gordon Harsh Park on Jan. 29. Ward confessed that he and Williams crept up behind the group, climbed over a fence and opened fire on the teenagers. 2 other teens were wounded in the attack which occurred 2 blocks from the Obamas’ upscale Kenwood home.
“The offenders had it all wrong. They thought the group they shot into included members of a rival gang. Instead it was a group of upstanding, determined kids who, like Hadiya, were repulsed by the gang lifestyle,” said McCarthy during the news conference.
McCarthy said Ward was already on probation for an earlier weapons conviction. McCarthy blamed the state of Illinois’ lack of mandatory minimum as the reason a violent offender was allowed to roam the streets.
“This incident did not have to occur,” 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.”
After canvassing the neighborhood more more clues and speaking with parolees, detectives zeroed in on the two suspects.
McCarthy said detectives had stopped Ward in his Nissan Sentra two days after the shooting. That traffic stop tied Ward to the shooting after Hadiya’s friends mentioned a Nissan Sentra driving away from the scene of the crime.
Early Sunday police pulled over the car the suspects were riding in as they headed to a strip club to celebrate the birthday of another gang member.
“I don’t even know what to say about that,” McCarthy said. “They were going out to celebrate at a strip club.”
Neither man confessed to being the shooter and police have not recovered a weapon, The Tribune reports. The men are due n court for a bond hearing on today (Feb. 12).
Hadiya’s father, Nathaniel Pendleton, was ecstatic at the news of the arrests. “(I’m) thanking God that these two guys are off the streets, so that this doesn’t happen to another innocent person,” he told The Tribune.
Pendleton and his wife, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton are guests of President Obama in Washington D.C., where they will attend the president’s State of the Union Address tonight (Feb. 12).
In his State of the Union speech President Obama plans to outline his plans to stimulate the economy by raising taxes.
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Thank Goodness, may she rest in peace.
Good Morning
This story is so sad
Morning Flawless
See where the thug life will get you?
I saw this all over FB last night. thnk god they have been taken in.
Morning LadieLeo
May she rest in peace and may the GUILTY rot in hell.
This is WONDERFUL news…now if we could only get the guns outta criminals hands…that would be powerful.
IDIOTs!
Hallelujah! I’m so happy that the police were able to arrest the suspects. Headed to a strip club though??? After murdering this child??? No remorse.
so had this precious young lady not performed for President Obama, you would not even think about posting this story…and what exactly does President Obama’s economic strategies have to do with finding these murder suspects…amazing that this is about finding justice for this young lady yet President Obama is infused throughout this story
anyway RIP to this young lady and may God continue to give strength to her family and friends
I apologize but this statement right here irks me >>> “2 other teens were wounded in the attack which occurred 2 blocks from the Obamas’ upscale Kenwood home.”
What dies that have to do with an innocent young life being ripped away from her and the other two teens that were wounded? I don’t even see why it’s mentioned .. just my thoughts
Hadiya was fatally shot as she and a group of friends sought cover from the rain in Vivian Gordon Harsh Park on Jan. 29. Ward confessed that he and Williams crept up behind the group, climbed over a fence and opened fire on the teenagers.
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This makes mY heart heavy,How terrifying
Early Sunday police pulled over the car the suspects were riding in as they headed to a strip club to celebrate the birthday of another gang member.
GOOD now they can strip for Bubba n Dem..if they are in fact guilty of this. SMH
Ward confessed that he and Williams crept up behind the group, climbed over a fence and opened fire on the teenagers.
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Doing all this covert option type stuff but not stop to make sure it was the “right target”. I mean its crazy they were targeting anyone but my goodness.
Good
“And if mandatory minimums existed in the state of Illinois, Michael Ward would not have been on the street to commit this heinous act.”
~ ~ ~ ~
they have this in FL.
10 yrs PULL a Gun
20 if you FIRE
LIFE if u hit someone
MsOnederful says:
GOOD now they can strip for Bubba n Dem..if they are in fact guilty of this. SMH
———————
RIGHT!!!
how ol dude going to the skrip cluh looking like a nappy hobbit though? I thought men thought to look nice no matter if they were going to a skrip cluh or a regular club.
RIP Hadiya and I wish these thugs up top could be skinned alived or dropped in a boiling pot of oil.
This is promising news. May her family and friends continue to find strength during this time.
Early Sunday police pulled over the car the suspects were riding in as they headed to a strip club to celebrate the birthday of another gang member.
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This is the scary part. They kill with no remorse and keep the party going
WIP!!!
Morning MaaM . . who’s that in Yo GRAVIE?
Im well YOU?
Im here for a little tuhday.Had a Manic monday Yesterday
@Luvn….I saw your post below. I’m glad celebs are still showing up to support the Martin family. It’s almost been a year and we know how soon people forget.
Praying for her family to have peace and strength. I couldn’t imagine having to bury my child. Especially when it’s such a senseless act of violence. So sad.
afiya
msonederful
flawless
lslh
man
Bedazzled His Razzle says:
how ol dude going to the skrip cluh looking like a nappy hobbit though? I thought men thought to look nice no matter if they were going to a skrip cluh or a regular club
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I figure long as they money looks nice it don’t matter if their head look crazy
jenie
miany
vdot
breezy
wip
LadieLeo says:
Bedazzled His Razzle says:
how ol dude going to the skrip cluh looking like a nappy hobbit though? I thought men thought to look nice no matter if they were going to a skrip cluh or a regular club
**************************
I figure long as they money looks nice it don’t matter if their head look crazy
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i cam agree with you on this.
Hey Milky…..I saw you spoke downstairs
LuVn that’s Keke Palmer. Am good keeping busy with work and studies. hope you have a terrific Tuesday. Cute Gravi.
In the grand scheme of things mandatory minimums don’t really prevent life-time criminals (sad to say many of these young men are already lifetime criminals at this age) or deter would be criminals from crime.
I thought men thought to look nice no matter if they were going to a skrip cluh or a regular club
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but they’re not men though…just some boys who haven’t grown up…sad
I wanted to stay in my bed this morning… it was nice and warm.
In the grand scheme of things mandatory minimums don’t really prevent life-time criminals (sad to say many of these young men are already lifetime criminals at this age) or deter would be criminals from crime.
and some people are born evil imo
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@MAINY . .
Yes,this isnt going to be forgoTTen.
also Zimmerman ATTy is repping another guy in Orlando,Trying to use the Stand ur ground def
WIP . . .
WOW,she LO_OKs soo GROWN
NaijaGal says:
In the grand scheme of things mandatory minimums don’t really prevent life-time criminals (sad to say many of these young men are already lifetime criminals at this age) or deter would be criminals from crime.
=====================
and some people are born evil imo
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Milky
WIP
Miani
LadyLeo
Bedazzled
Luvnlife
flawless
BREEZY
Man
VA
Jenie
I knew I saw dude in the pic’s face before…he used to be the police chief in Newark NJ…saw him in that documentary Brick City…so he finally chunked the deuces to Corey Booker
GLAD THEY MADE AN ARREST HOWEVER IT’S SAD TO SEE IT’S THE NORM SOME YOUNG BLACK MEN WHO MALICIOUSLY TOOK A LIFE WITH NO REGARDS TO WHO THEY WERE SHOOTING AT SIMPLY TO GAIN SOME NOTORIETY AMONGST THEIR FELLOW LOW LIFES THEY ASSOCIATE WITH
MAY SHE REST IN PEACE, AND GOD BE WITH HER FAMILY & FRIENDS ESPECIALLY HER PARENTS-DESPITE THEIR ARREST AND POSSIBLE CONVICTION, THEIR BABY GIRL IS GONE FOREVER
@VA it’s in the tap water…
and sometimes some women dont even take vitamins while pregnant. mostly because they cost too much?? but flintstones do the same thing so 
as for that second grader there should be no excuse as to why he was able to access a loaded gun at home. I bet money one of his parents is “about that life”.
WOW,she LO_OKs soo GROWN
…………
I know right? I could not believe that was her.
MsOnederful
hey msone!
@ Razzle-I tried to take those damn horse pills. My body was like
And I can take pills. But those big nasty muhfuggas I could NOT handle. And you’re right, his family is probably “about that life” and I’m wondering if the house got searched as a result of this incident. Hopefully so. Probably all kinda bullshyt going on in there.
Hey Milky and Msone
@VA- I took flintstones
the dr told me to because they stunk so bad and made me gag. I never gag. 
I think it’s time they looked into remaking the shape and taste of the prenatal vitamins 
Good to hear justice will be served!
More arrests are needed! WHOMEVER was harboring them should be in jail too! Grandma! Auntie! Who-the-Fu*k-Ever!
Folks need to UNDERSTAND that this ish is real.
NOw they could solved the rest of the 500+ plus murders.. These 2 dumb azzes and the others that didn get caught yet, should receive a one way ticket to a third world coutry signed good luck!
Fighting war against themselves how about fighting for equal pay, fair education and opportunities And where are the so called parents that create these monsters.. This is sickening and genocide on blacks across every urban city and should not be tolerated by blacks. Blacks want to feel safe, have their kids attend good school and prosper, but you know they group us all with the angry man thing. Its time to stand and stop waiting for us to be linked to a politician to stand. Even if it means standing us our own. If your not for us youre against us And when I said for us, it means at all times, not a front for TV and big newstories or a political agenda!!! Wake up
obama dude, dont raise my damn taxes, since 1/15/13, theyre taking more out of my check and all that hoopla about the fiscal cliff and come to find out FICA is taking more money.. yall play too damn much
the attack which occurred 2 blocks from the Obamas’ upscale Kenwood home.
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Now if we could quite bringing this ISH up…Has nothing to do with nothing
Scruff McGruff
Chicago, Illinois 60652
Scruff McGruff
Chicago, Illinois 60652