Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon Obituary, Death – 7-Year-Old Dies After Alleged Chicago Attack
Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon, also known as Eddimar Hernandez, was fatally injured in an alleged stabbing in Chicago’s East Chatham neighborhood on Saturday morning, October 3, 2026. The seven-year-old girl later died from her injuries, leaving her family and community devastated by the sudden loss.
According to police, the attack happened at approximately 11:55 a.m. in the 8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 86th Street. Edi Mari was reportedly walking southbound along the sidewalk with her mother when an adult woman approached them.
Investigators said the woman, who reportedly did not know the child, allegedly attacked Edi Mari with a sharp object, stabbing her multiple times in the back.
The child was rushed to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment before being transferred to the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. Despite efforts to save her life, she later died from her injuries. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon.
The violent incident reportedly drew the attention of people nearby. Surveillance footage from a business in the area is said to have captured part of the aftermath, while witnesses reportedly chased the alleged attacker and detained her until police arrived.
Authorities identified the suspect as Shavon D. Gayden, 48. According to the information provided, Gayden suffered injuries while being detained by bystanders and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Her injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Police subsequently took Gayden into custody. Details concerning formal charges, court proceedings and her current custody status were not included in the available information.
Investigators have not established a motive for the attack. Police have indicated that Gayden did not know Edi Mari, but authorities have not publicly explained what may have led to the alleged stabbing.
Reports also indicate that Gayden had previous arrests, including an alleged confrontation involving a Chicago Transit Authority employee in 2023. The circumstances of that reported incident, and whether it has any relevance to the current investigation, have not been established.
The death of seven-year-old Edi Mari Hernandez Chacon has left her loved ones confronting an unimaginable loss. A child who was simply walking with her mother lost her life in a sudden act of violence, while investigators continue working to determine exactly what happened.
The case remains under investigation, and additional information about the allegations, charges and court proceedings may be released as authorities continue their work.
