12-Year-Old Shouthwest Side Girl Shot While Doing Homework In Front Of Home

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 16, 2012 9:30PM

Classes at Chicago Public Schools Track E schools started this week and already a student has been shot. Crystal Booker, 12, was shot in her leg while she was doing her homework in front of her home on the Southwest side Wednesday evening. Police said a young man in his late teens or early 20s opened fire on the 6500 block of South Talman around 6:30 p.m. He got off 10 shots and struck Crystal.

Crystal is an eighth-grader at Claremont Academy. Her cousin Jasmin Booker told WGN-TV, "It's really a shame that. . .our kids are starting back school to better (themselves) and this is what they have to worry about."

The bullet passed through Crystal’s leg. She was treated at Holy Cross Hospital and expected to make a full recovery. The gunman is still at large. Police said the area where she was shot is home to several Gangster Disciple factions who have spent months fighting each other.