CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been charged in the shooting that killed a 9-year-old girl and injured 10 others during a family’s confirmation celebration in April on the city’s Southwest Side.
Octaviano Romero, 39, of Chicago has been charged with one felony count of first-degree murder and 10 felony counts of attempted murder in the shooting that killed 9-year-old Ariana Molina and injured 10 others, including multiple children, on April 13 in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.
The family said it was celebrating a teenage girl’s confirmation in the 2000 block of West 52nd Street that day. One relative told WGN News the family was about to cut the cake when gunfire erupted.
A shot hit a 9-year-old girl, later identified as Molina, in the head. She was rushed to Comer Children’s Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later. Among the others shot, two boys ages 1 and 7 went into the ICU.
Police said SpotShotter picked up 18 rounds fired at the location.
Romero is also charged with one count of issuance of warrant and one count of driving without a seat belt.