A 9-year-old girl named Serabi Medina was tragically shot and killed in the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago. The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, August 5th, as Serabi was playing on her scooter and enjoying ice cream. According to court records, Michael Goodman, a 43-year-old neighbor, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.
Court documents state that Serabi’s father, who was holding ice cream given to him by his daughter, instructed her to go inside their apartment after a gunshot was heard across the street. It was at this moment that Goodman, armed with a gun, approached Serabi near the entrance of the apartment building. Despite her father’s pleas, Goodman allegedly shot the child in the head. Serabi’s father managed to tackle Goodman, and during the struggle, the gun discharged, striking Goodman in the eye.
The motive behind the shooting has not been specified in court records. However, a neighbor and friend of the victim’s family, Megan Kelley, mentioned that the gunman had confronted Serabi and her father about noise prior to the incident. Kelley also stated that Goodman had a history of complaining about children playing in the neighborhood.
Goodman, who is represented by a public defender, reportedly suffers from severe mental health issues. A mental health care order for immediate psychiatric treatment has been entered into the court. Three additional witnesses identified Goodman as the gunman, and investigators recovered a 9 mm shell casing and firearm from the scene.
The case remains under investigation, and Goodman is currently in critical condition at a hospital.
Author: Ryan Scott
Just a guy