April 24, 2025 • 29 mins
Just days after marching in Obama’s inauguration, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed in a park near his home—an unintended victim of gang violence in Chicago. Her story shows how innocent lives are caught in the crossfire of gang rivalries while highlighting how her legacy sparked nationwide activism against gun violence.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Nya starr (00:00):
She stood in the crowd.
A part of history as the worldlistened to words of hope and
progress.
The echoes of a powerful speechfaded into the applause, but in
the blink of an eye a moment ofcelebration turned into one of
sorrow.
(00:30):
Warning this podcast explorestrue crime cases and may include
descriptions of violence andother sensitive topics.
Listener discretion is advised.
At just 15 years old, shecaptured the nation's attention
performing at President Obama'ssecond inauguration, but only
(00:51):
days later her life was cutshort, leaving her community
shattered.
The tragic story of HadiyaPendleton, the events that led
to her death, the impact on herfamily, and how this tragedy
became a sobering reflection ofthe violence so many young lives
(01:15):
face Stay with me as we divedeeper into this story where the
hope of a promising young lifeis honored but ended with the
echoes of gunfire in the streets.
I'm your host, nia, and this isIsland Noir Beyond the Palm
Trees.
Born on June 2, 1997, in CookCounty, illinois, Hadiya grew up
(01:42):
in a loving, close-knit family,with her parents, nathaniel and
Cleopatra Cowley Pendleton, andher younger brother, nathaniel
Jr.
Her parents worked hard toprovide for her with the
opportunities they had andexperienced themselves.
As most parents do, theyenrolled her in various
activities that would nurtureher talents and build her
(02:04):
confidence.
From a young age, Hadiya wasfull of life, with a smile that
could light up any room.
Friends and family oftendescribed her as a joyful,
outgoing and determined tosucceed.
Hadiya was a bright anddedicated honor student at King
(02:29):
College Prep High School.
Academics were very importantto her, but she was more than
just a scholar.
Hadiya loved music and danceand was proud majorette in her
school's band, performing atmajor events, including
President Barack Obama's secondinauguration.
It was a moment of immensepride for Hadiya and her family.
(02:52):
She was also an athlete,playing volleyball, and an
active member of her church,where she participated in the
dance ministry.
Her involvement in theseactivities obviously reflects
her vibrant personality and herdeep love for her community.
Those who knew Hadiya describedher as compassionate and
(03:18):
kind-hearted.
She was a leader amongst herpeers, always ready to offer
encouragement or a shoulder tolean on.
Her infectious laughter andlove for life left an impression
on everyone she met, whethershe was hanging out with her
friends, going for ice cream orsimply enjoying the everyday
(03:42):
joys of being a teenager, orsimply enjoying the everyday
joys of being a teenager.
Despite growing up in a citymarked by violence, Hadiya
remained optimistic about herfuture.
Her family supported her dreams.
She thrived in school, music,dance and sports.
She embraced life fully.
Her vibrant energy and kindnessmade her a beacon of hope in a
(04:07):
city often overshadowed byviolence.
But tragically, her brightfuture was stolen on an ordinary
day, doing something as simpleas hanging out with friends
after school.
Simple as hanging out withfriends after school.
(04:33):
On Tuesday, january 29, 2013,15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton and
about a dozen of her friendswere at Harsh Park in Kenwood,
chicago, not too far from formerPresident Obama's family home.
They had just finished theirfinal exams and were relaxing in
the park on the city's southside when it started to rain,
the group took shelter under acanopy.
One of Hadiya friends, kaylinJones, later recounted what
(04:58):
happened.
She said she had been lookingdown at her phone when she saw a
man jump the fence.
He ran towards the group and,without warning, began shooting.
(05:20):
After firing the shots, the manjumped into a waiting vehicle
and fled the scene.
According to police reports,17-year-old Lawrence Sellers and
Sebastian Moore were bothinjured in the shooting, one in
the leg and was later reportedto be in good condition, and the
other suffered a graze.
But Hadiya was shot once in theback as she fled.
(05:44):
But Hadiya was shot once in theback as she fled.
In those frantic moments, herfriends did everything they
could to help.
One of them cradled Hadiya headin her lap while they waited
for the ambulance.
Kaylin held her hand trying tocomfort her.
They truly believed she wouldpull through, but less than an
(06:07):
hour Hadiya Pendleton waspronounced deceased at the
University of Chicago ComerChildren's Hospital.
She was just 15 years old.
Chicago has long struggled withdevastating levels of violence,
particularly gun violence, tiedto gang activity.
(06:29):
By January 31, 2013, just onemonth into the new year, Hadiya
had already become the 42ndvictim of homicide in the city.
To put it into perspective, in2013, there were a total of 431
(06:49):
homicides reported in Chicagothat year.
According to the Chicago PoliceDepartment's ClearMap system, a
platform designed to increasetransparency and public
awareness of criminal activity,there were 94 violent crimes
reported in the Kenwoodneighborhood alone.
In present day, the city as awhole experienced an alarming
(07:15):
27,042 violent crimes.
Why such a staggering level ofviolence?
Gang activity has consistentlybeen one of the primary drivers.
A report from Illinois PolicyInstitute highlights how
gang-related violence was themost common motive identified in
(07:38):
Chicago homicides.
The heartbreaking part is thatjust four years before her life
was taken, Hadiya had appearedin an anti-gang video.
In the video, she urged herpeers to steer clear of gangs
(08:00):
and choose a better path.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Let's take a moment to hear Hadiya in her own words.
Hi, my name is Haidea.
This commercial isinformational for you and your
future children.
Hi, my name is Amari.
I will be speaking about safetyof our people.
So many children out there arein gangs and it is your job as
students to say no to gangs andyes to a great future.
So many children in the worldhave died from gang violence.
(08:25):
More than 500 children havedied from being in the wrong
place at the wrong time.
Nya starr (08:30):
So think smart, but joining the gang isn't a part of
it.
Noir Seekers.
You're probably asking whathappened in the days following
that devastating afternoon inthe park, but before I dive into
the investigation and thepursuit of justice, I want us to
reflect on the outpouring ofgrief and love at Hadiya funeral
(08:55):
, a moment that underscored thedeep impact of her loss In the
days following her death.
Her loss In the days followingher death.
King College Prep was filledwith a sea of purple and red
Purple her favorite color, redsymbolized the gun violence that
claimed her life.
(09:16):
Hadiya was remembered not justby her friends and teachers, but
by the entire city of Chicagoby her friends and teachers, but
by the entire city of Chicago.
Her tragic death reignited thenational conversation on gun
control, adding fuel to agrowing debate over firearms.
(09:37):
On Saturday, february 9,hundreds of mourners packed into
a Southside church to honor herlife.
Among those in the attendancewere former First Lady Michelle
Obama, governor Patrick Quinnand other prominent officials.
(09:58):
Before the service, michelleObama met privately with
Hadiya's family, as well asother 30 of her friends and
classmates, offering them wordsof comfort in their grief.
During the funeral, reverendCourtney shared she was not too
young to leave a mark and impacther friends, her family and
even now the nation.
(10:19):
Damon Stewart Hadiya godfather.
Damon Stewart Hadiya godfathervoiced frustration with
lawmakers, urging them to stopplaying politics with gun
violence and instead think of itpersonally.
Hadiya mother, leopatra Cowley,bravely addressed the
(10:43):
congregation.
Her voice carried both strengthand heartbreak.
As she said, you don't know howhard this really is, and to
those of you who do know, I amsorry.
Hadiya was laid to restsurrounded by loved ones,
friends and advocates callingfor change.
Her funeral was not just afarewell but a powerful call to
(11:06):
action against a violence thatcontinues to plague our young
children.
With her family and communityin mourning, attention soon
turned to finding thoseresponsible for the shooting.
(11:26):
Two days after the murder ofHadiya, the Chicago police
announced they were receivingtips they hoped would lead to
the arrest of the gunman who hadtargeted the group of high
school students enjoying acarefree afternoon.
At the time, police had noleads on the shooter's identity,
but a critical break came whenwitnesses described the getaway
(11:50):
car.
That description matched avehicle involved in a traffic
stop just days before thekilling.
Through the lead and interviews, detectives identified two
(12:11):
suspects Michael Ward, who wasthen 18, and Kenneth Williams,
who was 20, reputed members ofthe Suul gang.
On the night of Hadiya'sfuneral, police arrested the
pair as they were heading to asuburban strip club to celebrate
a friend's birthday.
Suburban strip club tocelebrate a friend's birthday.
Ward surrendered withoutstruggle, but Williams attempted
(12:40):
to flee before beingapprehended.
According to policesuperintendent Gary McCarthy,
ward confessed to the shooting.
He explained that he andWilliams had been looking for
members of a rival gang, the 4-6Terror Gang, and retaliation
for prior shooting that leftWilliams injured.
Tragically, they mistookHadiya's group as their target.
(13:00):
Ward told police that as he andWilliams drove through Harsh
Park and Ward's mother's car,they spotted the group under the
canopy.
Both men got out, crept closerand started opening fire.
Ward admitted to detectivesthat Hadiya was not the intended
(13:22):
target.
He said she was just there,acknowledging she had nothing to
do with it.
In his own words, the realitywas devastating.
Hadiya and her friends were notgang members.
They were bright, upstandingstudents with promising futures.
(13:45):
Yet this senseless act ofviolence left lasting scars.
Denetria Hudson, who heldHadiya in her arms after she was
shot, would later share how sheand the others in the group
have struggled with nightmaresand the fear of returning to
(14:06):
parks.
The investigation revealed thatjust two days before the killing
, police had stopped Ward aspart of a routine gang
investigation.
His car was a Nissan Sentra.
It became a key lead when itmatched witness descriptions
from the scene of the shooting.
(14:27):
Ward was already on probationfor unlawful use of a firearm
and had been sentenced to twoyears probation in January 2012,
but he remained free, and 12days after the shooting, both
Ward and Williams were chargedwith first-degree murder and
(14:48):
attempted murder.
Superintendent McCarthyexpressed his frustration,
saying that this incident didn'thave to occur.
If mandatory minimum existed inIllinois, michael Ward would
not have been able to be on thestreet to commit this heinous
act.
Mccarthy's point aboutmandatory minimum sentences
(15:13):
raises an important conversationabout accountability in
gang-related crimes.
It's heartbreaking to think howmany innocent lives like
Hadiya's are caught in thecrossfire of gang violence.
With the suspects in custody,the focus shifted on the legal
(15:34):
proceeding.
The trial for HadiyaPendleton's murder began on
August 14, 2018, five yearsafter her tragic death.
Michael Ward and KennethWilliams faced charges of
(15:56):
first-degree murder, attemptedmurder and aggravated battery
with a firearm.
Prosecutors argued thatWilliams acted as the getaway
driver while Ward fired into thegroup of students at Harsh Park
on January 29, 2013, mistakenlybelieved them to be rival gang
(16:18):
members.
Although the two were triedtogether, they had separate
juries due to their differingdefenses.
The prosecution's strongestpiece of evidence was Ward's
videotaped confession.
It was recorded during theinterrogation of February 10,
(16:39):
2013.
In it, ward admitted to theshooting, explaining how
Williams instructed him totarget rival gang members.
Ward detailed how they drove tothe park, approached a group,
opened fire and fled the scene.
At one point, a detective askedhow many shots did he fire?
(17:02):
Six, ward replied.
However, the defense arguedthat Ward's confession was
coarse.
They suggested detectives fedWard details about the shooting,
(17:27):
which he then repeated in hisstatements.
During opening arguments, thedefense claimed Ward's
confession simply echoed whatpolice told him, casting doubt
on the validity of the videoOutside of eyewitness account.
(17:48):
Hadiya loved ones took the standto share her story.
Among them was her mother,cleopatra Cowley, who recounted
the moment she learned of herdaughter's shooting.
Cleopatra described theconfusion of the initial phone
(18:09):
call and how an officer assuredher that Hadiya was still alive
but couldn't let her speak toher.
When asked if she was ever ableto speak with Hadiya again,
cleopatra simply replied no.
Her emotional testimony leftthe courtroom silent, with her
family visibly overcome by grief.
Their words painted aheartbreaking picture of the
(18:31):
loss Hadiya death brought tothose who knew and loved her
Defense attorney, julie Kohler,questioned the thoroughness of
the police investigation,highlighting the lack of
(18:53):
physical evidence linking Wardand Williams to the shooting.
No gun, gunshot residue,fingerprints or DNA was found.
Kohler also pointed to securityfootage showing another
individual matching eyewitnessdescription, yet police did not
(19:14):
include this person in theirphoto lineups.
Prosecutors focus on the whiteNissan seen fleeing the scene.
Sergeant Velma Guerrerotestified that the car led
police to Ward and Williams.
She explained that the shootingtook place in 4-6 terror gang
(19:35):
territory and the getaway carheaded towards Sioux turf,
prompting detectives to focus onthe Sioux gang.
Feud.
Guerrero noted that whilepolice investigated other tips,
all evidence eventually pointedback to Ward and Williams.
A forensic scientist testifiedthat gunshot residue tests on
(20:08):
the white Nissan came backnegative.
Gunshot residue tests on thewhite Nissan came back negative.
However, she explained thatfactors like rain or the time
elapsed between the shooting andthe sample collection could
have contributed to the results.
Despite the defense's challenges, the prosecution presented key
(20:29):
eyewitness testimony.
Former King College prepstudent Stephen Abdul identified
Ward as the shooter.
In court, when asked about hiscertainty, abdul confidently
stated he was 100% sure.
The trial revealed thecomplexities of seeking justice
(20:53):
in gang-related crimes, withconflicting accounts, recanted
testimonies and proceduralquestions surrounding the
evidence.
The prosecution leaned heavilyon Ward's confession and
eyewitness identification tobuild their case.
Ward's confession andeyewitness identification to
(21:13):
build their case.
In August 2018, the jury foundboth defendants guilty.
Kenneth Williams was convictedof first-degree murder and
aggravated battery, whileMichael Ward was found guilty of
first-degree murder.
Ward was sentenced to 84 yearsin prison in January 2019.
(21:38):
Assistant State's AttorneyBrian Holmes described him as a
sociopath, emphasizing his lackof remorse.
Ward, however, maintained hisinnocence, stating I'm going
down for murder I didn't commit.
Williams was sentenced to 42years in prison in 2021.
(22:00):
During sentencing, he addressedthe Pendleton family with
sympathy but continued to asserthis innocence.
Hadiya father, nate Pendleton,dismissed his remarks saying
"'Just go do your time and we'lldo ours'".
At the sentencing, Hadiyamother, cleopatra, shared the
(22:25):
family's grief, stating Hadiyais serving a death sentence and
the whole family is doing lifeas a result of her death.
Her brother, nathaniel Jr,expressed his guilt, adding.
Jr expressed his guilt, addingI still haven't forgiven myself
(22:50):
and I don't think I ever will.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
I think that's very sad for a child to think or say
that it's unfortunate.
I was feeling emotions I don'tthink I ever felt, and that's
really happy, but ready to cryand crying really happy, but
ready to cry and crying, andhappy.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
It was celebratory because, you know, finally,
after five and a half years,there's some level of closure to
the routine that we used tohave, and then there is someone
that's held responsible.
At the end of the day, we'veall lost, right Our child's been
buried and now their child's inthe system.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
I'm really pleased with the outcome of the courts,
but it is two young Black menwhose lives are gone and it's in
the system now and they're inthe system and that's where
they're going to be.
Nya starr (23:39):
Hadiya's parents' words are a heartbreaking
reminder of the profound impactgun violence has, not only on
its victims, but on the familiesleft behind.
In 2023, an Illinois appellatecourt overturned Michael Ward's
(24:11):
conviction, citing violations ofhis right to remain silent
during questioning.
The court ruled that Ward'sconfession a key piece of
evidence was invalid due toimproper interrogation methods.
As a result, a new trial wasordered.
However, the Cook CountyState's Attorney's Office
(24:33):
publicly disagreed with thedecision, stating we stand
behind the prosecution and areexploring all options to secure
justice for Hadiya.
This year marks 12 years sinceHadiya life was tragically cut
short, leaving her family andcommunity forever changed.
(25:00):
Yet her memory continues toinspire action and hope.
Every year, Hadiya parentshonor her with a massive
celebration, transforming theirgrief into a platform for
raising awareness about gunviolence.
Guests are encouraged to wearorange, a color symbolizing the
(25:27):
fight against this epidemic.
Hadiya friends also helpedpreserve her legacy by launching
the Wear Orange campaign.
What began as a tribute toHadiya has grown into a
nationwide movement embraced byorganizations across the country
to honor lives lost tosenseless violence.
Former President Obamahighlighted Hadiya Pendleton's
(25:58):
death during his 2013 State ofthe Union address, with her
parents present as honoredguests.
Hadiya impact extends beyondactivism and into art.
In his song Janayla Forever,rapper Luke Fiasco imagined a
(26:19):
world where Janayla Watkins, asix-month-old murdered in
Chicago in 2013, grows up to bea doctor and befriends Hadiya,
who becomes an artist.
This track highlights thepotential stolen by gun violence
, a theme tragically present inboth of their stories.
(26:43):
Being tragically present inboth of their stories, Hadiya
story is a reminder of the tollthat gang violence takes not
only on those directly involved,but also on innocent victims
who are caught in the crossfire.
As we close, I reflect on theresilience of those fighting to
(27:10):
create a safe future for ouryouth.
Hadiya's life and legacycontinue to inspire movement for
change.
Let us remember Every statisticrepresents a life A a dream
unrealized, a family grievingand a community struggling to
(27:32):
heal.
Noir Seekers.
Thank you for tuning in toIsland Noir Beyond the Palm
Trees.
Don't forget to subscribe onYouTube and follow us on
Instagram at Island Noir Podcastfor updates.
Until next time, keep seekingthe truth beyond the shadows.
She stood in the crowd.
A part of history as the worldlistened to words of hope and
progress.
The echoes of a powerful speechfaded into the applause, but in
the blink of an eye a moment ofcelebration turned into one of
sorrow.
(00:30):
Warning this podcast explorestrue crime cases and may include
descriptions of violence andother sensitive topics.
Listener discretion is advised.
At just 15 years old, shecaptured the nation's attention
performing at President Obama'ssecond inauguration, but only
(00:51):
days later her life was cutshort, leaving her community
shattered.
The tragic story of HadiyaPendleton, the events that led
to her death, the impact on herfamily, and how this tragedy
became a sobering reflection ofthe violence so many young lives
(01:15):
face Stay with me as we divedeeper into this story where the
hope of a promising young lifeis honored but ended with the
echoes of gunfire in the streets.
I'm your host, nia, and this isIsland Noir Beyond the Palm
Trees.
Born on June 2, 1997, in CookCounty, illinois, Hadiya grew up
(01:42):
in a loving, close-knit family,with her parents, nathaniel and
Cleopatra Cowley Pendleton, andher younger brother, nathaniel
Jr.
Her parents worked hard toprovide for her with the
opportunities they had andexperienced themselves.
As most parents do, theyenrolled her in various
activities that would nurtureher talents and build her
(02:04):
confidence.
From a young age, Hadiya wasfull of life, with a smile that
could light up any room.
Friends and family oftendescribed her as a joyful,
outgoing and determined tosucceed.
Hadiya was a bright anddedicated honor student at King
(02:29):
College Prep High School.
Academics were very importantto her, but she was more than
just a scholar.
Hadiya loved music and danceand was proud majorette in her
school's band, performing atmajor events, including
President Barack Obama's secondinauguration.
It was a moment of immensepride for Hadiya and her family.
(02:52):
She was also an athlete,playing volleyball, and an
active member of her church,where she participated in the
dance ministry.
Her involvement in theseactivities obviously reflects
her vibrant personality and herdeep love for her community.
Those who knew Hadiya describedher as compassionate and
(03:18):
kind-hearted.
She was a leader amongst herpeers, always ready to offer
encouragement or a shoulder tolean on.
Her infectious laughter andlove for life left an impression
on everyone she met, whethershe was hanging out with her
friends, going for ice cream orsimply enjoying the everyday
(03:42):
joys of being a teenager, orsimply enjoying the everyday
joys of being a teenager.
Despite growing up in a citymarked by violence, Hadiya
remained optimistic about herfuture.
Her family supported her dreams.
She thrived in school, music,dance and sports.
She embraced life fully.
Her vibrant energy and kindnessmade her a beacon of hope in a
(04:07):
city often overshadowed byviolence.
But tragically, her brightfuture was stolen on an ordinary
day, doing something as simpleas hanging out with friends
after school.
Simple as hanging out withfriends after school.
(04:33):
On Tuesday, january 29, 2013,15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton and
about a dozen of her friendswere at Harsh Park in Kenwood,
chicago, not too far from formerPresident Obama's family home.
They had just finished theirfinal exams and were relaxing in
the park on the city's southside when it started to rain,
the group took shelter under acanopy.
One of Hadiya friends, kaylinJones, later recounted what
(04:58):
happened.
She said she had been lookingdown at her phone when she saw a
man jump the fence.
He ran towards the group and,without warning, began shooting.
(05:20):
After firing the shots, the manjumped into a waiting vehicle
and fled the scene.
According to police reports,17-year-old Lawrence Sellers and
Sebastian Moore were bothinjured in the shooting, one in
the leg and was later reportedto be in good condition, and the
other suffered a graze.
But Hadiya was shot once in theback as she fled.
(05:44):
But Hadiya was shot once in theback as she fled.
In those frantic moments, herfriends did everything they
could to help.
One of them cradled Hadiya headin her lap while they waited
for the ambulance.
Kaylin held her hand trying tocomfort her.
They truly believed she wouldpull through, but less than an
(06:07):
hour Hadiya Pendleton waspronounced deceased at the
University of Chicago ComerChildren's Hospital.
She was just 15 years old.
Chicago has long struggled withdevastating levels of violence,
particularly gun violence, tiedto gang activity.
(06:29):
By January 31, 2013, just onemonth into the new year, Hadiya
had already become the 42ndvictim of homicide in the city.
To put it into perspective, in2013, there were a total of 431
(06:49):
homicides reported in Chicagothat year.
According to the Chicago PoliceDepartment's ClearMap system, a
platform designed to increasetransparency and public
awareness of criminal activity,there were 94 violent crimes
reported in the Kenwoodneighborhood alone.
In present day, the city as awhole experienced an alarming
(07:15):
27,042 violent crimes.
Why such a staggering level ofviolence?
Gang activity has consistentlybeen one of the primary drivers.
A report from Illinois PolicyInstitute highlights how
gang-related violence was themost common motive identified in
(07:38):
Chicago homicides.
The heartbreaking part is thatjust four years before her life
was taken, Hadiya had appearedin an anti-gang video.
In the video, she urged herpeers to steer clear of gangs
(08:00):
and choose a better path.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Let's take a moment to hear Hadiya in her own words.
Hi, my name is Haidea.
This commercial isinformational for you and your
future children.
Hi, my name is Amari.
I will be speaking about safetyof our people.
So many children out there arein gangs and it is your job as
students to say no to gangs andyes to a great future.
So many children in the worldhave died from gang violence.
(08:25):
More than 500 children havedied from being in the wrong
place at the wrong time.
Nya starr (08:30):
So think smart, but joining the gang isn't a part of
it.
Noir Seekers.
You're probably asking whathappened in the days following
that devastating afternoon inthe park, but before I dive into
the investigation and thepursuit of justice, I want us to
reflect on the outpouring ofgrief and love at Hadiya funeral
(08:55):
, a moment that underscored thedeep impact of her loss In the
days following her death.
Her loss In the days followingher death.
King College Prep was filledwith a sea of purple and red
Purple her favorite color, redsymbolized the gun violence that
claimed her life.
(09:16):
Hadiya was remembered not justby her friends and teachers, but
by the entire city of Chicagoby her friends and teachers, but
by the entire city of Chicago.
Her tragic death reignited thenational conversation on gun
control, adding fuel to agrowing debate over firearms.
(09:37):
On Saturday, february 9,hundreds of mourners packed into
a Southside church to honor herlife.
Among those in the attendancewere former First Lady Michelle
Obama, governor Patrick Quinnand other prominent officials.
(09:58):
Before the service, michelleObama met privately with
Hadiya's family, as well asother 30 of her friends and
classmates, offering them wordsof comfort in their grief.
During the funeral, reverendCourtney shared she was not too
young to leave a mark and impacther friends, her family and
even now the nation.
(10:19):
Damon Stewart Hadiya godfather.
Damon Stewart Hadiya godfathervoiced frustration with
lawmakers, urging them to stopplaying politics with gun
violence and instead think of itpersonally.
Hadiya mother, leopatra Cowley,bravely addressed the
(10:43):
congregation.
Her voice carried both strengthand heartbreak.
As she said, you don't know howhard this really is, and to
those of you who do know, I amsorry.
Hadiya was laid to restsurrounded by loved ones,
friends and advocates callingfor change.
Her funeral was not just afarewell but a powerful call to
(11:06):
action against a violence thatcontinues to plague our young
children.
With her family and communityin mourning, attention soon
turned to finding thoseresponsible for the shooting.
(11:26):
Two days after the murder ofHadiya, the Chicago police
announced they were receivingtips they hoped would lead to
the arrest of the gunman who hadtargeted the group of high
school students enjoying acarefree afternoon.
At the time, police had noleads on the shooter's identity,
but a critical break came whenwitnesses described the getaway
(11:50):
car.
That description matched avehicle involved in a traffic
stop just days before thekilling.
Through the lead and interviews, detectives identified two
(12:11):
suspects Michael Ward, who wasthen 18, and Kenneth Williams,
who was 20, reputed members ofthe Suul gang.
On the night of Hadiya'sfuneral, police arrested the
pair as they were heading to asuburban strip club to celebrate
a friend's birthday.
Suburban strip club tocelebrate a friend's birthday.
Ward surrendered withoutstruggle, but Williams attempted
(12:40):
to flee before beingapprehended.
According to policesuperintendent Gary McCarthy,
ward confessed to the shooting.
He explained that he andWilliams had been looking for
members of a rival gang, the 4-6Terror Gang, and retaliation
for prior shooting that leftWilliams injured.
Tragically, they mistookHadiya's group as their target.
(13:00):
Ward told police that as he andWilliams drove through Harsh
Park and Ward's mother's car,they spotted the group under the
canopy.
Both men got out, crept closerand started opening fire.
Ward admitted to detectivesthat Hadiya was not the intended
(13:22):
target.
He said she was just there,acknowledging she had nothing to
do with it.
In his own words, the realitywas devastating.
Hadiya and her friends were notgang members.
They were bright, upstandingstudents with promising futures.
(13:45):
Yet this senseless act ofviolence left lasting scars.
Denetria Hudson, who heldHadiya in her arms after she was
shot, would later share how sheand the others in the group
have struggled with nightmaresand the fear of returning to
(14:06):
parks.
The investigation revealed thatjust two days before the killing
, police had stopped Ward aspart of a routine gang
investigation.
His car was a Nissan Sentra.
It became a key lead when itmatched witness descriptions
from the scene of the shooting.
(14:27):
Ward was already on probationfor unlawful use of a firearm
and had been sentenced to twoyears probation in January 2012,
but he remained free, and 12days after the shooting, both
Ward and Williams were chargedwith first-degree murder and
(14:48):
attempted murder.
Superintendent McCarthyexpressed his frustration,
saying that this incident didn'thave to occur.
If mandatory minimum existed inIllinois, michael Ward would
not have been able to be on thestreet to commit this heinous
act.
Mccarthy's point aboutmandatory minimum sentences
(15:13):
raises an important conversationabout accountability in
gang-related crimes.
It's heartbreaking to think howmany innocent lives like
Hadiya's are caught in thecrossfire of gang violence.
With the suspects in custody,the focus shifted on the legal
(15:34):
proceeding.
The trial for HadiyaPendleton's murder began on
August 14, 2018, five yearsafter her tragic death.
Michael Ward and KennethWilliams faced charges of
(15:56):
first-degree murder, attemptedmurder and aggravated battery
with a firearm.
Prosecutors argued thatWilliams acted as the getaway
driver while Ward fired into thegroup of students at Harsh Park
on January 29, 2013, mistakenlybelieved them to be rival gang
(16:18):
members.
Although the two were triedtogether, they had separate
juries due to their differingdefenses.
The prosecution's strongestpiece of evidence was Ward's
videotaped confession.
It was recorded during theinterrogation of February 10,
(16:39):
2013.
In it, ward admitted to theshooting, explaining how
Williams instructed him totarget rival gang members.
Ward detailed how they drove tothe park, approached a group,
opened fire and fled the scene.
At one point, a detective askedhow many shots did he fire?
(17:02):
Six, ward replied.
However, the defense arguedthat Ward's confession was
coarse.
They suggested detectives fedWard details about the shooting,
(17:27):
which he then repeated in hisstatements.
During opening arguments, thedefense claimed Ward's
confession simply echoed whatpolice told him, casting doubt
on the validity of the videoOutside of eyewitness account.
(17:48):
Hadiya loved ones took the standto share her story.
Among them was her mother,cleopatra Cowley, who recounted
the moment she learned of herdaughter's shooting.
Cleopatra described theconfusion of the initial phone
(18:09):
call and how an officer assuredher that Hadiya was still alive
but couldn't let her speak toher.
When asked if she was ever ableto speak with Hadiya again,
cleopatra simply replied no.
Her emotional testimony leftthe courtroom silent, with her
family visibly overcome by grief.
Their words painted aheartbreaking picture of the
(18:31):
loss Hadiya death brought tothose who knew and loved her
Defense attorney, julie Kohler,questioned the thoroughness of
the police investigation,highlighting the lack of
(18:53):
physical evidence linking Wardand Williams to the shooting.
No gun, gunshot residue,fingerprints or DNA was found.
Kohler also pointed to securityfootage showing another
individual matching eyewitnessdescription, yet police did not
(19:14):
include this person in theirphoto lineups.
Prosecutors focus on the whiteNissan seen fleeing the scene.
Sergeant Velma Guerrerotestified that the car led
police to Ward and Williams.
She explained that the shootingtook place in 4-6 terror gang
(19:35):
territory and the getaway carheaded towards Sioux turf,
prompting detectives to focus onthe Sioux gang.
Feud.
Guerrero noted that whilepolice investigated other tips,
all evidence eventually pointedback to Ward and Williams.
A forensic scientist testifiedthat gunshot residue tests on
(20:08):
the white Nissan came backnegative.
Gunshot residue tests on thewhite Nissan came back negative.
However, she explained thatfactors like rain or the time
elapsed between the shooting andthe sample collection could
have contributed to the results.
Despite the defense's challenges, the prosecution presented key
(20:29):
eyewitness testimony.
Former King College prepstudent Stephen Abdul identified
Ward as the shooter.
In court, when asked about hiscertainty, abdul confidently
stated he was 100% sure.
The trial revealed thecomplexities of seeking justice
(20:53):
in gang-related crimes, withconflicting accounts, recanted
testimonies and proceduralquestions surrounding the
evidence.
The prosecution leaned heavilyon Ward's confession and
eyewitness identification tobuild their case.
Ward's confession andeyewitness identification to
(21:13):
build their case.
In August 2018, the jury foundboth defendants guilty.
Kenneth Williams was convictedof first-degree murder and
aggravated battery, whileMichael Ward was found guilty of
first-degree murder.
Ward was sentenced to 84 yearsin prison in January 2019.
(21:38):
Assistant State's AttorneyBrian Holmes described him as a
sociopath, emphasizing his lackof remorse.
Ward, however, maintained hisinnocence, stating I'm going
down for murder I didn't commit.
Williams was sentenced to 42years in prison in 2021.
(22:00):
During sentencing, he addressedthe Pendleton family with
sympathy but continued to asserthis innocence.
Hadiya father, nate Pendleton,dismissed his remarks saying
"'Just go do your time and we'lldo ours'".
At the sentencing, Hadiyamother, cleopatra, shared the
(22:25):
family's grief, stating Hadiyais serving a death sentence and
the whole family is doing lifeas a result of her death.
Her brother, nathaniel Jr,expressed his guilt, adding.
Jr expressed his guilt, addingI still haven't forgiven myself
(22:50):
and I don't think I ever will.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
I think that's very sad for a child to think or say
that it's unfortunate.
I was feeling emotions I don'tthink I ever felt, and that's
really happy, but ready to cryand crying really happy, but
ready to cry and crying, andhappy.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
It was celebratory because, you know, finally,
after five and a half years,there's some level of closure to
the routine that we used tohave, and then there is someone
that's held responsible.
At the end of the day, we'veall lost, right Our child's been
buried and now their child's inthe system.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
I'm really pleased with the outcome of the courts,
but it is two young Black menwhose lives are gone and it's in
the system now and they're inthe system and that's where
they're going to be.
Nya starr (23:39):
Hadiya's parents' words are a heartbreaking
reminder of the profound impactgun violence has, not only on
its victims, but on the familiesleft behind.
In 2023, an Illinois appellatecourt overturned Michael Ward's
(24:11):
conviction, citing violations ofhis right to remain silent
during questioning.
The court ruled that Ward'sconfession a key piece of
evidence was invalid due toimproper interrogation methods.
As a result, a new trial wasordered.
However, the Cook CountyState's Attorney's Office
(24:33):
publicly disagreed with thedecision, stating we stand
behind the prosecution and areexploring all options to secure
justice for Hadiya.
This year marks 12 years sinceHadiya life was tragically cut
short, leaving her family andcommunity forever changed.
(25:00):
Yet her memory continues toinspire action and hope.
Every year, Hadiya parentshonor her with a massive
celebration, transforming theirgrief into a platform for
raising awareness about gunviolence.
Guests are encouraged to wearorange, a color symbolizing the
(25:27):
fight against this epidemic.
Hadiya friends also helpedpreserve her legacy by launching
the Wear Orange campaign.
What began as a tribute toHadiya has grown into a
nationwide movement embraced byorganizations across the country
to honor lives lost tosenseless violence.
Former President Obamahighlighted Hadiya Pendleton's
(25:58):
death during his 2013 State ofthe Union address, with her
parents present as honoredguests.
Hadiya impact extends beyondactivism and into art.
In his song Janayla Forever,rapper Luke Fiasco imagined a
(26:19):
world where Janayla Watkins, asix-month-old murdered in
Chicago in 2013, grows up to bea doctor and befriends Hadiya,
who becomes an artist.
This track highlights thepotential stolen by gun violence
, a theme tragically present inboth of their stories.
(26:43):
Being tragically present inboth of their stories, Hadiya
story is a reminder of the tollthat gang violence takes not
only on those directly involved,but also on innocent victims
who are caught in the crossfire.
As we close, I reflect on theresilience of those fighting to
(27:10):
create a safe future for ouryouth.
Hadiya's life and legacycontinue to inspire movement for
change.
Let us remember Every statisticrepresents a life A a dream
unrealized, a family grievingand a community struggling to
(27:32):
heal.
Noir Seekers.
Thank you for tuning in toIsland Noir Beyond the Palm
Trees.
Don't forget to subscribe onYouTube and follow us on
Instagram at Island Noir Podcastfor updates.
Until next time, keep seekingthe truth beyond the shadows.
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