On August 5, 2023, 9-year-old Serabi "Bibi" Medina was fatally shot in the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago. The incident occurred in the 3500 block of North Long Avenue, outside her home, around 9:40 p.m. Serabi was playing outside on her scooter and had just returned from buying ice cream from a nearby ice cream truck when the shooting happened.
The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Michael Goodman, who lived in the same block as the victim, approached Serabi armed with a handgun. Despite her father, Michael Medina, warning her to go back inside, Goodman shot Serabi in the head on the sidewalk. When Michael Medina saw the gunman, he tried to stop him, leading to a struggle during which Goodman was shot in the face with his own gun.
Serabi was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead from the gunshot wound to the head. Goodman, who was known to police, was arrested at the scene and taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition.
Goodman was charged with first-degree murder and appeared in bond court on August 8, 2023. During the hearing, he was denied bond by a Cook County judge. Despite having no prior criminal history, the judge ordered Goodman to be held without bail. Goodman had been a computer programmer for 20 years and held a FOID card, but no motive for the shooting was revealed during the hearing.
The community and family members were deeply affected by Serabi's death, which was described as completely unprovoked. Serabi was remembered for her vibrant personality, her love for riding her scooter, and her kindness. A vigil was held in her honor, and a memorial grew outside her home with flowers, stuffed animals, and candles. Sadly, Serabi's life was taken in a similar manner to her mother's, who was also a victim of gun violence in 2018.
Goodman's behavior had been noted by neighbors previously; he would often yell at children for being too loud when they played outside. On the night of the shooting, he was wearing earmuffs typically used at shooting ranges, which added to the disturbing details of the incident.
