01/29/2021
On this day in 2013, the city of Chicago and the entire country were in outrage when Hadiya Pendleton was murdered. Hadiya Pendleton (06/02/1997-01/29/2013) was a normal teenaged girl who enjoyed life like any normal 15-year-old would. She was also an honor student and a volleyball player at King High School. On the weekend of President Barack Obama's second inauguration, Hadiya preformed along with a number of friends there in Washington, DC. That was just the beginning of a bright future for her. Unfortunately on the afternoon of January 29, 2013, the lives of Chicago residents, CPS, President Obama, Michelle Obama, and even residents of other parts of the United States changed forever. Around 2:30 pm, Hadiya walked with friends to Harsh Park in the North Kenwood neighborhood. As the group huddled under a canopy as it began to rain, a man suddenly approached, jumped a fence, ran toward the group, and began shooting. The police believe that the man mistook the group for members of a gang. Hadiya, who the police say was an unintended target with no ties to gangs, was shot in the back. Sadly, she died later that day. Two others were injured. President Obama mentioned Pendleton's death in his 2013 State of the Union Address in Congress, where Pendleton's parents — Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton and Nathaniel A. Pendleton Sr. — attended as guests. The crime scene is "just a mile away from President Obama's Chicago house." First Lady Michelle Obama attended the four-hour funeral on February 9, 2013 and two hours of it were live on Fox 32 in Chicago. Two suspects, Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth Williams, 20, were arrested and indicted with multiple counts of first degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a weapon and many other charges. Ward was charged with 141 counts of first-degree murder, while Williams was charged with 17 counts. They told police that Pendleton was not the intended target. The group she was standing with was mistaken for members of a rival gang. A judge denied bail for the two gang members. At the time of the shooting, Ward, the gunman, was on probation. In January 2012, he had pled guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and was sentenced to two years of probation. Less than three months later, he was arrested and charged with breaking into a car. In July 2012, he was arrested for breaking into a different vehicle. In November 2012, he was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing. During his youth, he had also been arrested numerous times on charges ranging from robbery to battery to ma*****na possession, and had spent time on juvenile probation. However, both guys unsurprisingly pleaded not guilty to Hadiya's murder. They went to court again May 6, 2013. As of August 28, 2017, the case was awaiting trial. Ward and Williams were each charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery with a firearm. The trial finally started on August 14, 2018. On August 22, 2018, a jury found Williams guilty of first degree murder of Pendleton. Williams was also found guilty of aggravated battery to her friends, Sebastian Moore and Lawrence Sellers. On August 23, 2018, a jury found Ward guilty of first degree murder in the death of Pendleton. Ward was sentenced to 84 years in prison on January 14th, 2019. Williams is awaiting sentencing. Attorneys disclosed that Williams rejected an offer that would have given him a 15-year sentence in exchange for testifying against his co-defendant. In September 2020, Williams made an exhaustive but unsuccessful bid to throw out the jury’s verdict. Although he wasn't the killer, he could be sentenced to at least 30 years in prison. It's sad when a young woman that was on her way to the top with dreams of being very successful had her life cut short because of two buffoons! I still ask these questions today. Who raised these fools? What the hell were they thinking? Better yet, WERE they thinking?! They took away someone's daughter and words today eight years later still can't even describe how Hadiya's parents are feeling right now. Whenever you get a chance, continue to pray for Hadiya's parents as they are STILL grieving over their untimely and unfortunate loss. In addition to that, PLEASE pray for the fools who took her life away as well. I know it sounds ridiculous but pray that they repent to God for what they did. No matter how wrong they were, they need prayer, too! That doesn't necessarily mean that God will forgive them and even IF He does, I'm pretty certain that severe consequences will follow. Just put them in God's hands and let Him do the rest! Once again, PLEASE pray for the Pendleton family as they are still having difficulties getting over Hadiya's murder. At this rate, I know for a fact that they won't get over it. But I do pray that they have peace and some kind of closure. It's real out here, y'all, especially since we're in a pandemic now! And if we don't take a stand against violence, it'll get much worse before it gets better! King College Prep hosted an after-school assembly, where students plan to read poems and sing songs two years ago. They went outside and released purple balloons. The assembly was closed to the media and public but the Pendletons were in the auditorium. I'm not sure if they're gonna do anything today but I hope they do although we're in a pandemic. Since then, they have founded the Hadiya Pendleton Foundation. Her father got a gift from City Hall three weeks before the one-year anniversary of the 15-year-old’s murder. Also in 2014, the City Council’s Housing Committee agreed to lease —for $1 through 2016 —two unused offices in the Martin Luther King Community Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove, to the foundation created to turn pain into purpose by providing mentoring, tutoring, computer and recreation programs for young people after school. The Hadiya Pendleton Foundation continues to occupy the two small offices until it identifies a permanent home with at least 2,500 square feet of space. As of January 2014, he raised just $15,000 of the $150,000 he believes he needs to operate a center fully stocked with computers. I'm not sure about where they are financially in regards to that but if you want to make a donation to the Hadiya Pendleton Foundation, you can send a check or money order to:
Hadiya's Promise
Martin Luther King Center
4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60653
You can also call toll free at 855-4hadiya. You can also pay online and get more information regarding anything you need to know at www.hadiyaspromise.org. If you can, PLEASE help them out. Every little bit helps. Also two year agos, Chef Nate Pendleton opened “The Next Level” at 2544 E. 83rd St. in the city’s South Chicago neighborhood after following his long-time dream of opening a restaurant. Pendleton invited others who have also lost family members to gun violence to have dinner at his restaurant during grand opening night. They also had a memorial service in memory of the slain teenager two years ago. You can check his restaurant out at thenewlookrestaurant.com. Even after eight years, they still need our prayers! Continue to rest peacefully in paradise, Hadiya Zaymara Pendleton!
