A local Chicago church has raised $35,000 to find gang members responsible for the death of a 9-year-old boy.
Members of Faith Community of St. Sabina, a well-known South Side Roman Catholic church, promise a reward for information leading to charges in connection to the death of Tyshawn Lee.
"This was not a drive-by. This was not a spray of bullets. A baby was executed," said Rev. Michael Pfleger, a priest at St. Sabina.
Lee, was "lured" from a park into an alley and fatally shot in the head by gang members earlier this week.
His death came at the hands of a gang looking to retailiate againist the boy's father, the Associated Press reports.
Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says the murder comes from a string of retalitory events dating over several months, but he says his father isn't cooperating with police.
The child's father, Pierre Stokes, has disagreed with authorities' characterization of him and said he's easy to find. He hasn't talked about whether he's a gang member but said police have spent more time pursuing him than finding out who killed his son.
"I answered every question they asked me," he told the Associated Press. "They're not asking me questions that I know. I don't know the questions that they asked me."
Police have released search warrants in the investigation but have not made any arrest. Authorities have said they know the gangs and individuals involved but need help assessing who did what. They reiterated a plea for any information that will help lead to charges, acknowledging fears people may have of being targeted for speaking out.
Faith Community of St. Sabina backs that plea. "This heartless person must be captured," Pfleger said.
Pfleger, who is known for his anti-violence activism, said he would pay money out of his own pocket to help anyone with information move from Chicago.
"We have gone to a new low that's removed what used to be some codes, some barriers, some lines that used to be drawn in the community, some things in our city that were not acceptable, he said.
A memorial for the boy stuffed animals, candles and balloons lingers in the alley.
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