8-Year-Old Girl Fatally Shot by Neighbor Over Noise Complaint
An eight-year-old girl tragically lost her life after being fatally shot by a neighbor in Chicago. The incident occurred when the suspect, identified as Michael Goodman, allegedly opened fire on a group of individuals in the Portage Park neighborhood. The motive behind the shooting was a noise complaint, with the suspect expressing displeasure about children being too loud outside his residence. The young victim, Sarabi Medina, was riding her scooter home after getting ice cream when she was shot in the head.
During the altercation that followed, the suspect’s own gun went off, injuring him in the face. Sarabi was immediately rushed to Stroger Hospital in critical condition but sadly succumbed to her injuries shortly afterward. Mr. Goodman, now in critical condition, has been charged with first-degree murder.
The shocking incident has left the community in a state of grief and fear. Residents are deeply disturbed by the tragedy and are concerned for the safety of their own children. Sue Kyser, a neighbor, expressed her disbelief and sorrow, stating, You killed an innocent child, an innocent baby girl for what reason? Now these parents have to mourn their baby and everything else, and every time you turn around and look, they’ll know it was across the street. Nobody’s going to let their kids come around here and play… it’s just crazy.
This devastating event takes an even more harrowing turn given the family’s prior loss. Sarabi’s mother, Bianca Miranda, was fatally shot in 2018. The family had moved to Portage Park in an attempt to rebuild their lives after the tragedy.
Megan Kelley, another neighbor, disclosed that the suspect had frequently confronted the victim and her father regarding the noise before the fatal incident. Despite attempts by the community to reason with the suspect, he remained adamant about the noise levels, causing confusion and frustration among everyone involved. Kelley revealed, Just little kids playing, he would come out just yelling about the noise. It just didn’t make sense, none of it made sense… Everybody in the community would just tell him they are just kids having fun playing, just let them be.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from such tragic encounters. The community mourns the loss of a vibrant young life and stands united in supporting Sarabi’s grieving family.
It is crucial that authorities comprehensively investigate this incident and hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. The community hopes that justice will be served and that this tragedy will serve as a catalyst for necessary changes to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
