Community Mourns 7-Year-Old Eddimar Hernandez Chacon
When Tashonda Porter heard about the tragic death of 7-year-old Eddimar Hernandez Chacon, she immediately thought of her own daughters. The young girl had been attacked in broad daylight while holding her 17-year-old sister’s hand on a busy South Side street. Porter, mother to a 21-year-old and a 10-year-old, said, “I could imagine my daughter walking my baby down the street.” She left a black Minnie Mouse headband at the memorial on the 8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, imagining Eddimar might have liked it too.
Four days after the incident, a steady stream of people visited the makeshift memorial. The sidewalk was covered with Barbie dolls, stuffed toys, flowers, and prayer candles. Balloons floated above a pile of memorial items. A cross, a framed photo of Eddimar, and a toy tiara lay close by with a message spelled in candy, “Eddimar, te amo” (I love you). Neighbors continuously stopped to contribute, expressing their shock and relating the tragedy to their own children. They wanted to support Eddimar’s family.
The neighborhood suspected untreated mental health issues influenced the attack. Mental health services had dwindled on the South Side. Court records showed Shavon Gayden, the accused, had a history of random attacks but no documented mental health conditions. Prosecutors revealed Gayden initially targeted Eddimar’s older sister. For Porter, thoughts lingered on the 17-year-old sibling who endured the trauma.
Robert Rouse, 67, prayed for the family and Gayden. He recalled another case of unprovoked violence from November 2025, involving Lawrence Reed and Bethany Magee, and noted parallels in poor mental health support. Shawndel Brown, who ran a party store nearby, reconsidered her family’s activities in the area. After witnessing the commotion, she contributed to the memorial despite feeling heartbroken.
Brown, who has grandchildren, stressed the need for consistent law enforcement and resources for mental health. At the memorial, Tiger Thompson, employer of Eddimar’s mother, tried to help the family with funeral arrangements. Meanwhile, others from the Venezuelan community adjusted the memorial, showing solidarity.
As the community mourned, individuals like Brown and Thompson sought ways to support Eddimar’s family through acts of kindness and practical help. The tragedy underscored a demand for better mental health services to prevent future incidents.