An 8-year-old in Chicago’s southwest side died after a stray bullet struck her in the head.

The victim, identified as Melissa Ortega, had recently moved to Chicago from Mexico along with her family. The child was walking on the street with her guardian on Saturday afternoon when someone opened fire at a 26-year-old man who was leaving a nearby store. Police believe he was the intended target.

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The bullet struck the girl in the head. She was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The 26-year-old man, a convict who has been arrested 13 times,  was shot in the back and was hospitalized in critical condition. There was no update on his condition. 

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Meanwhile, the attacker, who managed to flee the scene, remained on the run as of Sunday. The motive behind the shooting was not known. 

Police Superintendent David Brown said the department “will not rest until the perpetrators” are brought to justice.

“The tragic and senseless murder of 8-year-old Melissa has shaken our city. There are no words of comfort when a child’s life is cut short. There are no words that can describe the grief of a family,” he tweeted.

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Saturday’s incident happened amid a spike in homicides in Chicago. Last year was the city’s deadliest in a quarter century, with roughly 800 homicides.

Melissa was a student at Emiliano Zapata Academy, an elementary school in the city’s heavily-Mexican Little Village neighborhood. Her family emigrated to Chicago from Mexico last year.

“This suffering is becoming too familiar for our babies and their families, who our educators love, nurture and support. Wishing Melissa’s family and Zapata community peace and healing tonight,” the Chicago Teachers Union tweeted. 

With inputs from The Associated Press