Chicago police expect arrests in baby’s killing
Chicago Police Superintendent Gary McCarthy says investigators believe they know what happened the night a 6-month-old baby was shot to death and her father seriously wounded.
“We are going to close this case, there’s no doubt in my mind,” he said.
McCarthy said Monday that Jonylah Watkins was sitting in Jonathon Watkins’ lap in the driver’s seat of a minivan when the shooter approached the vehicle and fired. That’s a change from previous reports that Watkins was changing the baby’s diaper at the time. McCarthy also says the baby was shot once, not several times as previously reported.
McCarthy says investigators indicate the 28-year-old Watkins is cooperating with police. McCarthy previously described Watkins as a gang member with a long criminal history.
“At this point there’s a lot more he can help us with, but (he) is cooperating with the investigation,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy has said police have surveillance video that shows the van they believe was the getaway vehicle. And he said investigators were trying to verify the existence of an alleged Facebook post threatening Watkins.
McCarthy also corrected previous reports that Jonylah’s mother, Judy Watkins, was shot in the knee while pregnant with the girl. McCarthy says Watkins’ wife was not shot.
Services for Jonylah are to be held Tuesday at a church in the Woodlawn neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side where the shooting occurred. A local funeral home is paying for the services.