Chicago, IL – The community of Edgewater is reeling from a tragic incident that claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy in a violent attack. Jayden Perkins was fatally stabbed, and his pregnant mother was left injured during the assault that occurred on Wednesday.
On Thursday, friends and neighbors gathered outside the apartment complex where the tragedy unfolded to pay tribute to Jayden. Flowers were laid at a tree near the building, prayers were offered, and balloons were released in memory of the young boy.
Described as kind and helpful by his classmates, Jayden was known for his involvement in school plays. Mason Hamm, a classmate, expressed his grief, saying, “I miss him. It’s not going to be the same without him.”
The suspect in custody is a man with a history of violence against the victim who was recently released from prison. He broke into a home in Edgewater, stabbing Jayden and his pregnant mother, who remains in critical condition. Residents in the area reported hearing screams and cries for help during the incident.
Upon arriving at the scene, police found Jayden with a fatal chest injury and his mother with multiple stab wounds. Jayden was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. His death has been ruled a homicide, while his pregnant mother, awaiting the arrival of her baby girl, is currently hospitalized.
Neighbors recall the female victim as a lovely woman with well-mannered children and remembered Jayden as a great child who regularly played with other kids in the neighborhood.
The suspect, a 37-year-old man with a history of domestic violence, had been released from prison after serving approximately seven years. Outraged by the suspect’s release, the victim’s fiancé expressed deep concerns. The family lived in a first-floor unit of Peterson Plaza Apartments, and their younger son, aged 5, was unharmed during the attack.