Chicago Woman Faces Murder Charges in 7-Year-old's Stabbing

WHO:

CNN - Shavon Gayden, 48, has been charged with first-degree murder.

CNN - The victim is identified as Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon, a 7-year-old girl.

US Magazine - The girl was walking with her older sister at the time of the attack.

WHAT:

CNN - Gayden was charged with one felony count of first-degree murder.

CNN - The girl was stabbed multiple times in the back.

US Magazine - The attack was described as "unprovoked."

WHERE:

CNN - The incident occurred in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago.

CNN - The girl was pronounced dead at Comer Children’s Hospital.

WHEN:

US Magazine - The stabbing incident took place on Saturday, October 3.

CNN - Gayden was initially scheduled to appear for a hearing on Monday morning.

WHY:

CNN - Police have not commented on a possible motive for the stabbing.

HOW:

CNN - A woman carrying an unspecified sharp object approached the girl and stabbed her.

CNN - Bystanders chased after Gayden and detained her after the attack.

(UPDATED October 6, 2026 06:01 UTC)

Shavon Gayden, 48, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing of seven-year-old Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon, who was attacked while walking with her older sister in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago. The girl was stabbed multiple times in the back in what authorities have described as an unprovoked attack, and she was pronounced dead at Comer Children’s Hospital shortly after the incident. Bystanders chased Gayden and detained her following the attack, and she was initially scheduled to appear for a hearing on Monday morning.