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.
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/Ariana-Molina.jpg?w=900)
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.