Neighbors described the boy as respectful and playful.



"He's a normal kid. He's not a troublemaker," said Diane Henderson, 59, who lives in the same building as the family in the 6400 block of South Maryland Avenue. "I got no understanding out of it. A 9-year old. It's sad."



Dee Roseman, 33, said the boy and her 11-year-old son play video games, read comic books and build forts together. "He's a sweet little boy," she said, adding that he likes math and reading.



Roseman said her son was watching the news this morning when he heard of the shooting. "He was like, Momma, I just hope that he's OK because that's my friend," Roseman said. "I said, 'He's OK. The only thing we can do is we can pray for him.' That's all we been doing since last night."



Roseman said she might take her son to the hospital later today.



Roseman said the boy lives with his mother and five other siblings under the age of 13. They moved into the area about two years ago.



Roseman said that their mother was thinking about sending her kids to summer camp and Great America. "So they wouldn't be outside so this stuff wouldn't happen," she said. "It is kinda bad out here."



The boy was among 11 people shot within eight hours Wednesday, including a 15-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man who were killed.



• The 15-year-old, Miguel Villegas, and another boy, 16, were shot around 6:30 p.m. when a gunman walked up and opened fire in the 5100 block of South Washtenaw Avenue in the Gage Park neighborhood, according to Police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer.



Villegas, of the 5100 block of South Mozart Street, died of a gunshot wound to the back and the other boy was in serious condition at Mount Sinai Hospital with a wound to his shoulder, authorities said. No one was in custody.



• Three people were shot about 7:25 p.m. in the 12300 block of South Emerald Avenue in the West Pullman neighborhood, Greer said. A 25-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man were each shot in the leg. Another man, 33, suffered a wound to his abdomen, Greer said.



• About 10 minutes later, a 48-year-old man was wounded in the 6100 block of South California Avenue. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.



• About 10:15 p.m., a 30-year-old man and a 23-year-old man were shot in the 3300 block of West Maypole Avenue, Greer said. The 30-year-old was shot in the side and taken to Stroger Hospital, police said. The other man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with a wound to his hip.



• A 19-year-old man was shot in the Englewood neighborhood about 10:45 p.m. while getting out of a car, police said. The car radio remained on long after he was taken to Stroger Hospital with a wound to his chest. He was in serious condition.



• Earlier Wednesday, a 20-year-old man was killed when someone in a gangway shot him while he stood on a porch on the Far South Side, according to authorities. The shooting happened shortly before 2:30 p.m. in the 400 block of West 115th Street, officials said.



Jessie D. Clark, of the 11600 block of South Harvard Avenue, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died. No one was in custody.