A three-month-old infant sustained gunshot wounds believed to be from a targeted and gang-related attack while his family was purchasing baby formula. Baby Jeremiah Carlos is currently receiving intensive medical care in the ICU after being shot in the chest in a Walgreens parking lot in Little Village, Chicago, over the weekend, according to the police. The infant is attached to various tubes and IVs and is scheduled for multiple surgeries, ongoing medical attention, and therapy following the tragic incident, as stated on a fundraising page established for the child and his family.
The family told local news sources on Sunday that Jeremiah’s condition is getting better and is stable. However, he is still in the ICU at Stroger Hospital. “Simply going to the store to buy baby formula, this tragic and senseless act of violence happened, completely disrupting our family’s lives. We are now dealing with a devastating crisis,” the fundraising page explained. According to the police, the baby was in the car with his father in the 3100 block of West 26th Street on Saturday afternoon, at around 4:30 pm, when two armed men shot at the Chevrolet Camaro, riddling the vehicle with bullet holes.
A report from the police, which the Chicago Sun-Times acquired, stated that the two individuals stepped out of a dated, brown SUV and had a green rifle and a handgun.
The spokesperson for the victim’s family, representing the Little Village Community Council at a conference, stated that the shooting was intentional and related to gang activity, as per CBS. The father of the infant, a 21-year-old who remains unidentified, sustained multiple gunshot wounds but has been discharged from the hospital, according to the report. Nonetheless, the family continues to experience apprehension. Chela Garcia, from the Little Village Community Council, remarked that there have been posts on gang-affiliated Facebook pages portraying the father as still alive and suggesting an intent to inflict further harm. The family also expressed on their fundraising page that they are reluctant to return to their neighborhood where the tragic incident occurred. They further mentioned, “Your generosity and compassion will enable us to provide Jeremiah with the best opportunity for a secure and healthy recovery, as well as a safer environment and community for him and his older brother, Christian.”
Detectives from Area Four of the Chicago Police Department are investigating. At this point, no arrests have been made.
Enrique Baltazar, from the Little Village Community Council, expressed that the couple is young and just starting their family, and they need our support. He mentioned that the road to recovery for the injured person will be long, and the family is hoping for his discharge from the hospital.
The Independent has reached out to the Chicago Police Department for additional details.
