'Horrific': 7-year-old killed, several injured after shooting in Chicago, police say

A 7-year-old girl was killed and several others injured, including two children, following a gang-related shooting in Chicago on Saturday night, police said.

Police, in a news conference, said officers responded to an alert for 18 gunshot rounds at about 9:15 p.m. in the Back of the Yards neighborhood and found multiple people shot and immediately began life-saving measures.

Officials initially said eight people were shot, but as of Sunday morning, local outlets reported that 11 people were shot, including at least three children. The Chicago Police Department did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

'This was not a random act of violence'

Chicago Police Department Deputy Chief Don Jerome said the 7-year-old died after being shot in the head.  A 1-year-old boy and a 7-year-old boy were in critical condition after being shot multiple times, Jerome said.

The adult victims were ages 19 to 40, police said.

An investigation is preliminary, but police said those shot were standing outside at a family gathering when someone shot into the crowd. Police believe it was a targeted act and witnesses saw two gunmen running away after the shooting.

“This was not a random act of violence. It was likely gang-related,” Jerome said. “Regardless of the motivation for this incident, three innocent children were struck tonight and one of them tragically succumbed to her wounds. The offenders’ actions, make no mistake, are horrific and unnaceptable in our city.”