At least 6 shot to death in Chicago, 26 hurt over weekend

June 17, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A family and a community mourn the deadly shooting of a 16-year-old Shakaki Asphy, who was sitting on a porch with friends when she was gunned down.

That porch is now a memorial.

That shooting was one of several over the weekend that left at least six people dead, including a 25-year-old woman.

One friend wiped away tears while another wrote a rest in peace sign before a group lit candles and gathered in prayer.

Shakaki Asphy's high school friends and teachers spent Sunday mourning the 16-year-old's death in front of the Englewood vacant home where she was gunned down last night sitting on the porch.

Dellaresse Cunninham's son was also shot in a crime she witnessed.

"A guy came through the gangway, he had on a grey hoodie," said Cunningham. "He pointed a gun and the guy just starting shooting,"

Neighborhood resident Trina Harland tried to help.

"She was crying then she stopped crying and was gasping for some air," Harland said. "I told her she would be ok."

Asphy died a short time later at the hospital.

She was a sophomore at Harper High School, where her P.E teacher says she was a star basketball player.

"She preferred to play with the guys over the girls," Gwyneth Kram said. "She was an outstanding basketball player, real aggressive and loved the game."

For Asphy's dad, losing his daughter on Father's Day is too much to take.

"I just want whoever did this to come forward and accept what they've done," Takaki Asphy said.

John Murray wants the same for his daughter on this day Father's Day. Twenty-five-year-old Tiffany Edwards was killed early Sunday morning as she was sitting in the passenger side of a van at the corner of 76st and State.

Someone pulled up and opened fire. Edwards's family says it's time for Chicago's police supt. to step up.

"Rather than standing behind officers leading them in NATO he needs to be out here in the community and leading his forces against the issues that we're dealing with," Murray said.

The Fraternal Order of Police is calling on the city to hire more police officers.

Some community activists say besides a visible police presence in the city's most violent neighborhoods, the code of silence must be cracked.

Besides 6 dead this weekend, 29 people were hurt in shootings over the weekend.

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local, sarah schulte

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