Crime
12-Year-Old Dalilah Batay Fatally Shot in Chicago
Authorities have confirmed that no suspects are currently in custody.
Chicago, IL – Authorities have identified 12-year-old Dalilah Batay as the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred on Sunday night, February 9, 2025, in Chicago’s South Side.
At approximately 9:30 p.m., officers from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) responded to reports of a person shot near 92nd Street and Harper Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Dalilah suffering from a gunshot wound to the face.
Emergency responders rushed her to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.
As of now, CPD has not released details regarding the circumstances of the shooting, and investigators continue to gather information.
Authorities have confirmed that no suspects are currently in custody, and Area Two Detectives are actively pursuing leads.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Chicago Police’s 22nd District at (312) 745-0570 or submit anonymous tips through CPDTIP.com.
Dalilah Batay was just weeks away from celebrating her 13th birthday.
Instead of planning a birthday party, her family is now preparing for a funeral—a devastating reality that underscores the ongoing crisis of senseless gun violence plaguing the city.
Dalilah should have been in school today, laughing with her friends and looking forward to her teenage years. Instead, another young life has been tragically lost.
As the community mourns this heartbreaking loss, the question remains: How many more children must be buried before real change is made?
This tragedy serves as yet another painful reminder of the urgent need to address gun violence and ensure the safety of our children and neighborhoods.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward. Your tip could help bring justice to Dalilah and closure to her grieving family.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.