



A 9-month-old who was shot during the double homicide of two women including his mother in Cicero has been rushed to a Chicago hospital late Wednesday morning, Chicago fire department officials say.
Meanwhile, earlier Wednesday near the scene of the killings, police found the body of a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and are investigating a possible link.
“About 11 a.m., Chicago Fire did a transfer of a pediatric patient from St. Anthony’s Hospital to Comer Children’s Hospital,” said fire spokesman Larry Langford. “The baby is in serious to critical condition, suffering from a gunshot wound.”
It’s a “traumatic injury,” Langford added.
The transfer was done because St. Anthony “is not a pediatric trauma center,” Langford added. Normally, St. Anthony would have contacted a private ambulance service but sometimes if the injury is very severe and the situation is critical, we may be requested in the interest of time and life-saving measures, Langford said.
The baby’s mother, Myeshia Newby, 19, was killed at the scene, relatives told the Sun-Times.
Newby’s great grandfather Mitchell Benton said he was in the basement of the home about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block South of 48th Court when her heard Newby arguing with the child’s father.
“The next thing I know he just started shooting,” Benton said.
The man shot Newby first then went after Benton’s daughter Jessica Hughes, 29, as she tried to run away with the baby, he told the Sun-Times.
Both Hughes and Newby were pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.
“The baby was given to the grandmother who was there,” said Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania. “At the time the baby looked in great shape - there didn’t seem to be any problems.”
Benton said family later discovered the baby may have suffered a graze wound.
“It’s terrible, the whole circumstances of this are terrible,” Hanania added.
About 3 a.m. Wednesday near the scene, police found the body of a man with self-inflicted gunshot wound and continue to investigate a possible link to the double homicide.
Following the shooting, Benton said he tried to hold the gunman at the scene but he eventually ran off.
“When heard the shots, I ran away around out of the laundry room...and she (Hughes) fell right at my feet and he tried to come around us to get out the door,” Benton said. “I’m not a young man, I’m 75 years old. I did what I could until I ran out of breath.”
Both women were both hardworking young mothers, Benton said — Hughes with a 12-year-old daugher and Newby a 9-month-old son.
Benton said he will now look after Hughes daughter.
“Her daughter was just coming in to talk to me,” Benton said. “She said ‘I know my momma’s gone and theres nothing I can do about it. I told her ‘we got her.’”
This is a developing story. Check back for details.