Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old who performed with her marching band for President Obama’s second inauguration, died Tuesday after she was gunned down on the streets of Chicago.

Pendleton was killed when a gunman opened fire on a group of students in a park just a few blocks away from King College Prep high school on Chicago’s South Side, according to the Chicago Tribune. A 16-year-old boy was also hit by the hail of gun fire. He sustained a wound to the leg and was hospitalized in serious condition.

The shooter fled by car and police have not made any arrests at time of publication.

Whitehouse spokesperson Jay Carney commented on the tragedy on behalf of President Barack Obama.

“The president and the first lady’s thoughts and prayers are with the family of Hadiya Pendleton,” he said. “All of our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Speaking of the influx of violence in Chicago and around the country, Carney added, “we may not be able to prevent every act of gun violence... we need to take action to reduce gun violence” and “make sure that we are doing everything we can in a responsible way to reduce this violence, to protect our children, including Hadiya Pendleton and others.”

A high school sophomore, Pendleton was a majorette in the band and also enjoyed playing volleyball.

Pendleton’s 10-year-old brother, Nathaniel, honored her by etching out the words “I love you” and “I miss you” on his arm. The brave child told the Chicago Times, “It’s very painful to see your big sister get slaughtered.”

Hadiya’s death is one of many in the gun-stricken Chicago area. There were 42 homicides in the city so far this year and in 2012 the city counted 506 murders. The city’s mayor, Rahm Emanuel, reached out the grieving family on Wednesday, saying, “Nothing pains you more than calling a fellow parent, trying to comfort them.”

Tags: Hadiya Pendleton obama rahm emanuel