7-Year-Old Girl Fatally Stabbed in Chicago’s East Chatham Neighborhood, Shavon Gayden Charged With First-Degree Murder

A 48-year-old Chicago woman, Shavon Gayden, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 7-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed while walking on a South Side sidewalk on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the girl as Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon. Prosecutors named her in court as Eddimar Paola Hernández Chacón.

This is a criminal prosecution, not a civil lawsuit, class action or settlement. No civil case, settlement, claim form or public compensation fund has been identified. The charge is an accusation, and Gayden is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Chicago East Chatham Stabbing Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Victim	Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon (also reported as Eddimar Paola Hernández Chacón), age 7
Defendant	Shavon Gayden, age 48
Date of incident	Saturday, October 3, 2026, shortly before noon
Location	8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, near East 86th Street, East Chatham, Chicago
Charges reported	First-degree murder; a probation-violation charge was also reported
Charges announced	Sunday, October 4, 2026, by Chicago police
Court status	Gayden remained hospitalized and did not appear at her October 5 hearing. A judge ordered her detained until the next hearing
Next hearing	Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Motive	Not established. Police have not publicly commented on a motive
Relationship to victim	Authorities say the victim was a stranger. Police said it was unclear whether the two knew each other
Civil lawsuit	None identified
Settlement, claim form or deadline	None. This is a criminal case
Official settlement website	None
Criminal case number	Not verified from an accessible public court record

What Happened

According to Chicago police, the girl was walking on the sidewalk in front of businesses when a woman approached and stabbed her multiple times in the back. People nearby detained the woman until officers arrived. The girl was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police said Gayden was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening and was then arrested. She was injured while being detained, according to police.

What Prosecutors Said in Court

At the October 5 proceeding, prosecutors presented an account that has not been tested at trial:

• The girl and her teenage sister were walking hand in hand along South Cottage Grove Avenue after leaving a business where they had gone to pay a phone bill.
• Around the same time, Gayden allegedly threatened a sales associate at a nearby business and then left, walking in the opposite direction.
• As Gayden walked past the sisters, prosecutors say she took a knife from a tote bag and lunged at the teenager, who dodged the attack.
• Prosecutors say she then took the 7-year-old to the ground and stabbed her multiple times in the back.
• Prosecutors said the attack was captured on Chicago Transit Authority surveillance video.

Employees of the business told NBC Chicago that Gayden shouted profanities and threatened to kill them but never showed a weapon.

These are allegations by prosecutors, not findings of guilt.

Why Gayden Missed the October 5 Hearing

Gayden remained hospitalized and could not appear. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed this, and she was ordered detained until the next hearing on October 7. Her absence says nothing about whether she committed the offense.

What Does a First-Degree Murder Charge Mean?

A charge means prosecutors have accused someone of a crime. It is not a conviction. The case will move through Cook County’s criminal court system, which can include detention hearings, evidence exchange, pretrial motions and then a plea or trial. The timeline cannot be reliably predicted this early.

Is There a Court Case Number?

AllAboutLawyer could not verify a criminal case number from an accessible public court record. The Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court says very recent cases may not appear immediately in its online case system. This article does not publish a guessed number.

Can the Family File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Possibly, but that would be a separate civil matter. A criminal case asks whether the defendant committed a crime. A wrongful-death lawsuit seeks money damages for losses caused by a death, and it follows different rules and time limits. No such lawsuit has been identified. The criminal prosecution does not create a public compensation fund or claims process.

Any family considering civil action should consult a qualified Illinois attorney.

Is There a Settlement, Claim Form or Deadline?

No. No settlement, claim form or public compensation deadline has been identified. Be careful with social-media posts or websites that claim to collect “claims” or donations for this case. Confirm any fundraiser through the family or an established charity before giving money or personal information.

What Should Witnesses Do?

Anyone with information, photos or video from the scene should give it to the Chicago Police Department rather than investigate on their own. Useful items include video or photos, the time and place you saw events, and the names of other witnesses. If you were injured, keep your medical records and consider speaking with an Illinois attorney about your own rights.

Key Dates

Date	Event
Saturday, October 3, 2026	Girl fatally stabbed in East Chatham; Gayden detained by bystanders
Sunday, October 4, 2026	Police announce the first-degree murder charge
Monday, October 5, 2026	Gayden hospitalized and absent; ordered detained; prosecutors present allegations
Wednesday, October 7, 2026	Next reported court hearing
Not applicable	No settlement or claim deadline exists

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was charged in the death of the 7-year-old girl in East Chatham?

Shavon Gayden, 48, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Who was the victim?

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon, age 7.

When and where did it happen?

Shortly before noon on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in the 8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago’s East Chatham neighborhood.

Did Gayden know the girl?

Authorities describe the victim as a stranger, and police said it was unclear whether the two knew each other.

What is the motive?

No motive has been publicly established.

Has Gayden been convicted?

No. A charge is not a conviction, and she is presumed innocent.

Is there a civil lawsuit or settlement?

No civil lawsuit or settlement has been identified.

Is there a claim form or compensation fund?

No public claim form or compensation process has been identified.

When is the next court date?

Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

Related Reading

• McDonough County $1,500,000 Police Chase Settlement Explained: an Illinois case with a very different set of facts, for comparison.

Legal information disclaimer: AllAboutLawyer.com is a U.S. consumer legal information website. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This article is based on law-enforcement and prosecution statements as reported by news outlets. They may change as the case develops, and all allegations are unproven. Anyone affected by community violence can seek help from local victim-services or mental-health organizations.

Sources

1. WTTW News, “Woman Charged With Fatally Stabbing 7-Year-Old Girl Walking in Chicago Saturday,” October 5, 2026. https://news.wttw.com/2026/10/05/woman-charged-fatally-stabbed-7-year-old-girl-walking-chicago-saturday
2. NBC Chicago, “New details reveal moments leading up to 7-year-old’s stabbing on Chicago street,” October 5, 2026. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/new-details-reveal-series-of-events-that-led-up-to-7-year-olds-stabbing-while-walking-on-chicago-street/3997989/
3. Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Online Case Information. https://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/online-case-information
4. CBS News Chicago, “Woman charged with allegedly stabbing, killing 7-year-old girl on South Side.” https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/woman-charged-stabbing-killing-7-year-old-girl-south-side/
5. FOX 32 Chicago, “Chicago woman charged with first-degree murder in stabbing death of 7-year-old girl.” https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-woman-murder-charge-7-year-old-girl-stabbing-south-side