Judge detains third suspect in 2022 slaying of 12-year-old girl celebrating her birthday in West Englewood

More than two years after a 12-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet in a gang-related shooting in West Englewood, a third person has been charged in her death.

Rahdeem Calhoun, 23, was ordered detained pending trial during a hearing Friday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, where he faced a charge of first-degree murder in the March 1, 2022 shooting, court records show.

Calhoun was arrested Thursday in the 7500 block of South Normal Avenue, a little more than two miles from where Nyzireya Moore was fatally shot while she was returning home from celebrating her birthday with family members.

Moore was riding in her family’s Buick SUV when three gunmen who had recently left a house in the 2300 block of West 72nd Street saw a rival gang member drive by in a Mercedes and they opened fire, Cook County prosecutors said at a hearing for two other men previously charged in the case.

Moore’s mother heard the gunshots and glass shattering as her car was struck before realizing her daughter had been shot in the head, prosecutors said. Moore was rushed to Comer Children’s Hospital, but died three days later.

Investigators found 25 shell casings from three different weapons at the scene, prosecutors said.

Surveillance cameras captured the shooting, but police officials said their break in the case came when an anonymous witness came forward.

Abdul Ali, 21, and Malik Parish, 22, were charged with first-degree murder in November 2022 and have been held at the Cook County Jail since while they are awaiting trial.

Both men were later indicted and have pleaded not guilty to murder, attempt murder and aggravated discharge of a weapon charges. Both are expected in court next on Oct. 22.