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CHICAGO (AP) - The reward stands at least $11,000 for information leading to the gunman who killed a 15-year-old Chicago girl just days after she performed at events for the president's inauguration.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy announced the reward at a Wednesday news conference. The money comes from community groups looking to find the killer of Hadiya Pendleton. She died Tuesday afternoon when a man opened fire in a park about a mile from President Barack Obama's home on Chicago's South Side. Hadiya was shot in the back as she tried to escape.

Community activist and priest Father Michael Pfleger spoke at the same news conference. He urged anyone who knows anything about the deadly shooting to tell police.

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CHICAGO (AP) - The father of a 15-year-old Chicago girl who was shot dead days after she performed at events for President Barack Obama's inauguration is speaking out.

Nathaniel Pendleton spoke to reporters Wednesday in the same park where his daughter, Hadiya Pendleton, was shot the day before. Her father asked why it should be dangerous for children to hang out in Chicago.

Chicago police say Hadiya Pendleton was in a park about a mile from Obama's home in the Kenwood neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon when a man opened fire. Hadiya was shot in the back as she tried to escape.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy told reporters that he wants the gunman off the street to prevent further violence. McCarthy consoled Hadiya's family before a news conference in the park.
 

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WASHINGTON (AP) - A White House spokesman says President Barack Obama's thoughts are with the family of a 15-year-old girl who was killed in Obama's Chicago neighborhood after a gunman opened fire on a group of young people.

Press secretary Jay Carney said during a press briefing Wednesday that "the president's and first lady's thoughts and prayers are with the family of Hadiya (huh-DYE'-yuh) Pendleton."

Police say there is no indication that Hadiya was the gunman's intended target in the shooting Tuesday in the South Side Kenwood neighborhood.

The teen had recently traveled to Washington, where she performed as a majorette at some of Obama's inauguration events.

Her death raises fresh concerns about gun violence in Chicago. Last year homicides in the city topped 500. There have been 42 so far this month.

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Story by 89 WLS reporter Bill Cameron
Mayor Emanuel got emotional today about the street murder of Hadiya Pendleton, the teenager who had participated in President Obama's inauguration ceremonies.

Mayor Emanuel got choked up talking about this murder, "You look at her. You look at how she talked about her future. She took her final exams. She had dreams. And this gangbanger, this punk. They took it away from Hadiya, and in my view, they took it away from the city of Chicago."

And the mayor said you're not a snitch if you know something about this murder and you tell police.

He said, you're a citizen.

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CHICAGO (AP) - The godfather of a 15-year-old girl who was killed when a gunman opened fire on a group of young people in Chicago says she was a terrific student who had dreams of becoming a doctor or a lawyer.

Damon Stewart says Hadiya Pendleton had been so excited about a trip to Washington, D.C., where she performed as a majorette at some of President Barack Obama's inauguration events.

Police say there is no indication that Hadiya was the gunman's intended target in the shooting Tuesday on the South Side.

Hadiya's death raises fresh concerns about gun violence. Last year the number of Chicago homicides topped 500 and there have already been more homicides in the city in January - 42 - than in any January in more than a decade.
Copyright © 2013 Associated Press