“We came in search of the American Dream we so famously hear of, but instead, I get to live a nightmare for the rest of my life,” the statement from Melissa's mother said.
"Words cannot describe the pain I am feeling. On Jan. 22, I lost my greatest treasure in life. I lost my princess. She was the reason why I got up every morning. Everything I did, I did for her," Melissa's mother wrote.
"We came in search of the American Dream we so famously hear of, but instead, I get to live a nightmare for the rest of my life," the statement from Melissa's mother said. After officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert and found Melissa at the corner of 26th and Pulaski, paramedics responded and brought her to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead less than two hours later, according to the report and an official statement from Chicago police.
"To the aggressor, I forgive you," the statement said. "You were a victim, too. As a 16-year-old, the community failed you, just like it failed my precious baby. Although I do hope that in the many years you spend in prison, you get time to reflect on your actions, because you took away the most valuable thing I had in my life: my princess, Melissa.""We should be filled with sadness, but anger as well.