Chicago Bulls superstar guard Derrick Rose will foot the bill for 6-month-old Jonylah Watkins’ funeral, ABC News reports. Jonylah died a day after she was shot 5 times while her father changed her diaper in the front seat of a van parked on Chicago’s south side on Monday.
Police say the father, who had known gang affiliations, told them the killer opened fire on him while he changed the baby’s diaper. Police believe the drive-by may have been provoked by a Facebook post.
“He was obviously targeted,” Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said of Jonathan Watkins during a press conference Tuesday. McCarthy added that he didn’t know when Watkins would cooperate with police, a possible reference to the “no snitch” policy of the streets.
According to DNAinfo Chicago, the infant had undergone at least 5 hours of surgery before she died.
“This morning, the baby passed away,” said the Rev. Corey Brooks, a spokesman for the family. “We have another tragedy in the city of Chicago.”
“The city of Chicago should be outraged that in our city a 6-month-old baby could be shot and killed,” Brooks added Tuesday, according to DNAinfo.
Brooks told the Chicago Tribune his Woodlawn-based New Beginnings Church was offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of Jonylah’s killer or killers.
Other individuals and community groups have contributed to the reward fund.
Jonylah’s mother, Judy Watkins, was previously shot while carrying the unborn Jonylah. She was working a shift at McDonald’s when Jonylah was shot on Monday. Judy and Jonathan had recently gotten married.
On Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel called Jonylah’s murder “senseless” and “despicable,” according to DNAinfo.
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