Moments after riding her scooter to the ice cream truck and bringing back treats for herself and her father, a 9-year-old Chicago girl was allegedly gunned down by a neighbor. Serabi Medina was killed just before 10 p.m. August 5 outside the apartment she shared with her father, Michael Medina. Serabi was just about to start fourth grade before her life was taken.
Serabi's father was talking with friends outside of the apartment building when he heard a gunshot. He reportedly told Serabi to take her scooter and go into the apartment building. Sadly, that is when the young girl was shot and killed.
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Serabi tried to run for cover.
Serabi reportedly followed her father's instructions and ran to the family's apartment after they heard the first gunshot. According to court documents obtained by CBS 2, Michael Goodman, 43, allegedly emerged from his apartment with a handgun. Medina reportedly approached Goodman as the man moved toward Serabi.
"When he raised the gun up, Mike seen him and said, 'that's my daughter!' Mike starts moving towards him, he walks up to her and shoots her, right in the head" Rene Aquino told Fox 32 Chicago.
Goodman sustained a gunshot to the eye.
Medina tackled the alleged shooter and got him to the ground. During the tussle, Goodman was shot in the eye, CBS 2 reported.
Aquino told Fox 32 Chicago that Goodman appeared to be wearing noise-canceling headphones.
Goodman seemed upset about the noise in the neighborhood.
He had reportedly complained about noise in the neighborhood before. Per NBC News, a neighbor, and friend of the family, Megan Kelley, told the Chicago Sun-Times that Goodman confronted Serabi and her father about the noise.
"Yesterday, when he came out, before he shot her, he had said something about them being too loud," she said. Kelley claimed Goodman repeatedly made an issue about noise in the neighborhood.
"He would come out just yelling about the noise. It just didn't make sense. None of it made sense," she recalled, per NBC News. "Everybody in the community would just tell him they are just kids having fun playing, just let them be."
Serabi was a cherished member of her family.
Relatives Jaleesa Medina and Ashley Medina organized a GoFundMe account to help her father with final expense. They spoke highly of the young child they lost so suddenly. The fundraiser has raised more than $35,000 of its $50,000 goal.
"She was a beautiful little girl who adored her dog and her father more than anything. She was only 9 years old, she had her whole life ahead of her," the page reads. "We appreciate anything you can give to help with the funeral expenses. Anything will help. We thank everything for all the outpour of love and support we have received over the last few days."
Contributors shared love and prayers for the family.
"we will always remember your smile and sweetness! Thank you for playing with our children and loving our dogs. We are heartbroken," one friend wrote.
"Comfort will be elusive, but please try. Your daughter will be missed. You did great against unspeakable evil," a donor shared.
"We live nearby and I remember seeing her and her dad in the summertime walking past the house, or riding past on their bikes. It would always give me a little joy when they popped up, seeing how much they clearly enjoyed their time together," a neighbor recalled. "What happened was a shocking and unbelievable tragedy. My thoughts go out to her family, and especially her father."
Serabi attended Reinberg Elementary School. A representative with Chicago Public Schools shared a statement with FOX 32 Chicago. "With great sadness, we are devastated at the loss of another young life. The thoughts and condolences of the entire Chicago Public Schools (CPS) family are with all those impacted by this tragedy," the statement reads.
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Serabi lost her mother to gun violence.
Tragically, Serabi's mom, 29-year-old Blanca Miranda, died by gun violence five years ago, People reported.
"I always used to look at her and think, man she lost her mom, that hurts. But this little girl was full of life, laughing, and just having fun," family member Hector Villafuerte told Fox 32 Chicago.
In Goodman's mugshot, evidence of the bullet wound to his face is visible. According to jail records, he is being held with no bond in Cook County Jail. He was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Serabi's death, the Associated Press reported.
