Savon Jayden misses court hearing for killing of 7-year-old girl in Chicago
- A seven-year-old Venezuelan immigrant girl was fatally stabbed in the South Chicago neighborhood of East Chatham, according to local authorities and reports from univision.com.
- The violent encounter unfolded shortly before noon at 11:55 a.m.
- Univision.com reported that prior to the fatal stabbing on the street, the suspect had entered a local cellular phone store and threatened a clerk.
A seven-year-old Venezuelan immigrant girl was fatally stabbed in the South Chicago neighborhood of East Chatham, according to local authorities and reports from univision.com. Edimari Hernandez Chacón was walking on a sidewalk with her older sister when a 48-year-old woman approached them from behind and attacked the child multiple times with a sharp object. The suspect, identified by Chicago police as Savon Jayden, now faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the unprovoked killing that has left the local community and the victim’s family in profound grief.
The Fatal Attack on South Cottage Grove Avenue
The violent encounter unfolded shortly before noon at 11:55 a.m. near the intersection of South Cottage Grove Avenue and East 86th Street, as reported by telemundo.com. Security camera footage captured the young victim walking hand in hand with an adult woman moments before the assault occurred. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, Edimari Hernandez Chacón suffered multiple stab wounds to her back. Emergency responders rushed the wounded girl to Comer Children’s Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced her dead shortly after arrival.
Univision.com reported that prior to the fatal stabbing on the street, the suspect had entered a local cellular phone store and threatened a clerk. Bystanders in the neighborhood quickly intervened to stop the fleeing suspect, detaining her until authorities arrived at the scene.
Savon Jayden did not appear at her initial bond and charge-formalization hearing at the Cook County Criminal Court because she was hospitalized for head injuries sustained during her citizen detention, univision.com reported. Prosecutors stated during the court proceedings that one of the residents who subdued the fleeing suspect struck her in the head. Police records show that the 48-year-old defendant also has an active criminal history, including an outstanding probation violation for prior attacks directed at public transit workers within the city.
Investigators and police officials confirmed that the suspect and the young victim did not know each other prior to the encounter. The exact motive behind the attack remains unclear as detectives continue their investigation. Local officials, including Chicago City Council member Michelle Harris, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, emphasizing that no child should ever face violence while simply walking down a public sidewalk.
Community Vigil and Funeral Planning
Family members, neighbors, and local residents gathered for a emotional neighborhood vigil to honor the young victim, leaving behind stuffed animals, balloons, and messages of support. Relatives shared that the family had immigrated to the United States from Margarita Island, Venezuela, just three years prior to the tragedy. Que la muerte de mi hija no se quede así, que haya justicia,
said Estefanía Hernández, the victim’s mother, in an interview cited by telemundo.com.
Community members and witnesses near the barbershop on the affected block described hearing the mother’s anguished cries following the assault. The grieving family is currently working through local channels to arrange a funeral service in the United States, a process they never imagined facing. A digital fundraising page has been established to help cover the costs of giving the seven-year-old girl a proper burial.
Court Appearance Scheduled for October
Savon Jayden is scheduled to make her next mandatory appearance in the Cook County courtroom on October 7, 2024, pending her discharge from medical treatment. Prosecutors will formally present the first-degree murder indictment during that upcoming session. The case continues to move through the Cook County judicial system as local authorities review surveillance footage and gather additional witness testimony from the East Chatham neighborhood.