Man charged with shooting 11-year-old Willow James in Harvey

A man was charged with shooting an 11-year-old girl last month in Harvey.

Willow James was riding home from school with her father and cousin on May 28 when she was struck in the head by an errant bullet, police said. Court records show that she was left paralyzed in the attack.

Graylin Waters, 29, was arrested last week and charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, records show. A gun linked to the shooting was found during a search of his car.

Waters was ordered held at the Cook County Jail while awaiting trial, records show. He’s scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday.

A standout athlete, dancer and singer, Willow has been left physically and emotionally scarred from the shooting.

Her parents said the bullet narrowly missed her brain but “fractured her skull and caused serious trauma that has impacted her ability to walk, speak, and process emotions.” She’s now undergoing intensive physical therapy at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.

“She lit up every room — and every field, court, and stage she walked onto. Her spirit is still there, fighting hard every day through therapy. We believe in her strength more than ever,” her parents said in a GoFundMe campaign.

Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings said the shooting “shook” the small south suburban village.

“From day one, our detectives worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend the suspect,” Biddings said in a statement. “With the help of our community, we’ve taken a dangerous individual off the streets and recovered what we believe to be the weapon used.”

Mayor Christopher J. Clark said Willow had been “caught in the crossfire of senseless violence.”

“While this arrest marks a critical step toward justice, we recognize that healing — for Willow, her family, and our community — goes far beyond legal proceedings,” Clark said.