Arrest in deadly "sleepover shooting" of Chicago girl

CHICAGO - An 18-year-old man has been charged with the shooting death of an 11-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet, reports CBS Chicago.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said Lee was trying to shoot rival gang members in retaliation for an earlier fistfight between two 14-year-old boys, one of whom was an acquainted with the suspect, the station reports.

McCarthy said Lee spotted the gang members standing in front of the home where Shamiya was attending the party and opened fire. Though the alleged shooter missed his targets, a stray bullet went through an open window and hit the 11-year-old girl.

"As all too often happens with gang violence, an innocent life was taken," McCarthy told CBS Chicago.

The superintendent said detectives do not think Lee was alone when he fired at the rival gang members and that the case is still under investigation. Police have not recovered the murder weapon and did not find any shell casings at the scene, according to the station.

"There's a pattern that we have to break," McCarthy said. "At the end of the day, you introduce a gun to a fistfight, and this is what happens."

A source close to the investigation revealed to CBS Chicago Tuesday night that a person of interest had been questioned by police.

McCarthy said nine "really good witnesses" helped detectives find the suspect. "Folks came forward and helped us, which really pushed us along in the investigation. It was a lot of information out there in the community, and the community helped us out."

A memorial service for Shamiya is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m., reports CBS Chicago.