Horror as little girl, 7, is stabbed in the back several times before bystanders tackled her accused killer

DAILYMAIL.COM • 1h ago

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER 22:00 04 Oct 2026, updated 22:01 04 Oct 2026

A seven-year-old girl was killed in Chicago after she was repeatedly stabbed in the back by a random stranger.

Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon was holding hands with her older sister walking in Chatham on Saturday morning when a woman approached them.

The unknown assailant brandished a sharp object just moments before brutally attacking the young girl at 11.55am, WGN 9 reported.

Witnesses told the outlet that the attack appeared to be random, and that the alleged suspect did not know her.

Video footage showed the accused attacker, who police sources told WGN-9 is a 48-year-old woman, calmly walk away from the scene as bystanders rushed to help Edi Mari.

‘I noticed there was a little girl laying on the ground. There was people standing over her,’ William Smith, who had been inside his barbershop at the time, told the outlet.

‘I heard a young lady, or somebody say, “That’s the lady. She did it. She’s running.”‘

A group of male bystanders then ran after the female attacker, holding what appeared to be jumper cables, according to WGN 9.

‘He whacked her with it. She fell, he whacked her again. Then they just started dropping the hammers on her,’ Smith added.

After nearby police were alerted to the incident, the suspect was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Edi Mari later succumbed to her injuries at Comer Children’s Hospital, the outlet reported.

‘The poor baby had nothing to do with what was going on,’ a woman told ABC 7.

Local Denesta Freeman also told the outlet: ‘I just don’t know what this world is coming to… for a seven-year-old like that to be getting stabbed.’

‘I never thought it would come to this point. I never did. These kids nowadays are not getting to live their life,’ Freeman added.

Alderman Michelle Harris of the 8th Ward said in a statement: ‘I am deeply saddened by the senseless stabbing of a seven year old child in our neighborhood. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and everyone who is affected by this horrific incident.

‘No child should ever have to experience violence or fear while simply walking down the sidewalk.

‘I also want to recognize and thank the bystanders who quickly intervened – helping to detain the suspect and get assistance on the way. Their quick actions may have prevented further harm.

‘I urge anyone with information to contact the Chicago Police Department. Our community must come together to support the victim and hold the perpetrator accountable.’

It remains unclear if the suspect, who has not yet been identified, knew the little girl as detectives continue to investigate.

The Chicago Police Department had no further updates as of Sunday afternoon.

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