A 6-month-old was laid to rest one week after she was killed on the lap of her own father.

Hundreds of loving friends and family said goodbye to Johnylah Watkins, a little girl they hardly got to know.

A tiny white casket was removed from a hearse outside New Beginnings Church of Chicago. Onlookers wept as the mother and father of young Jonylah followed their only child into a funeral home for a final farewell.

Inside, there were demands from the pulpit; too much violence, too many deaths.  The people of Chicago for days have wanted answers. This day in particular, they want action.

They sang, they prayed, they wept and then they left. It’s a community becoming all too familiar with the routine of a funeral up in arms over the senseless bloodshed that could even take a life as vulnerable and innocent as young Jonylah’s.

Jonylah’s dad Jonathan, police say, has known gang affiliation and a criminal record with 30-plus arrests and five convictions. He was the target, police say.

There are no suspects in custody at this.

A tiny white casket is the latest symbol of Chicago’s gun violence problem.

In this casket lies the body of six month-old Jonylah Watkins. She was shot and killed by a bullet meant for her dad, who has alleged gang ties and a criminal history.

Her funeral was held Tuesday at New Beginnings Church at 66th and King Drive. Her father and mother, Jonathan and Judy, wore white sweatshirts covered with her pictures.

“While we thank God for her life, we also, I think all of us need to apologize to her for not doing our best to make this world a better place. She deserved better than she got,” said Rev. Marshall Hatch.

Jonylah was shot as she sat on her father’s lap inside a van in the Woodlawn neighborhood on March 11th. A gunman walked up to the vehicle near 65th and Maryland, and opened fire.

She was hit once, but the bullet injured several organs and she passed away the next day. Her father suffered two wounds, and was released from Northwestern Memorial Hospital last Thursday.

Police say he is cooperating, but could be helping a lot more.

WGN News Writer C. Hayes published this story.

Pastor Corey Brooks preaches at 6-month-old Jonylah Watkins’ funeral Tuesday at New Beginnings Church in Chicago. (WGN-TV)

A funeral for 6-month-old Jonylah Watkins is being held in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood Tuesday.

She was shot and killed on the 6500 block of South Maryland on March 11.

Watkins was sitting on her father’s lap, inside a minivan, when a gunman approached and opened fire.

A single bullet entered her shoulder, injured several organs, before it exited through her lower body.

She survived emergency surgery, but she died the next morning.

Family, friends, and even strangers lined up for a visitation at Leak & Sons funeral home.

A 3-foot-6-inch casket was open, with a pink teddy bear inside.

No arrests have been made in Watkins’ murder.

Police say they believe her father, Jonathan, was targeted by a rival gang member.

The father was taken to a police station after he was released from the hospital.

“At this point we think there’s a lot more he can help us with, but he is in fact cooperating with the investigation,” said Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

It was an emotional night on the south side as friends and family gathered for at a visitation for a baby who was shot and killed last week.

Mourners couldn’t hold back their sadness and frustration at seeing the tiny body of Jonylah Watkins.  Tears streamed down their faces after leaving the Leak & Sons Funeral Home.
While family, friends & even strangers mourned, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said detectives are closer to finding the killer.
One week ago, Jonylah was shot once while sitting in her father’s lap in their minivan at 66th & Maryland. Jonathon Watkins, who has a long criminal background, was the intended target, shot by a rival gang member.

He survived and has been cooperating with police.

Visitation will be held tonight for Jonylah Watkins, the 6-month-old girl was shot and killed last week while sitting on her father’s lap in a car.

Today, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy told reporters investigators believe they know what happened that night and are now going about proving it.

He also made mention of the role the girl’s father is playing in the investigation.

Tonight’s visitation for Watkins starts at 6 p.m. and will be at the Leak & Sons Funeral Home on South Cottage Grove.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy provides the latest details of the investigation into 6-month-old Jonylah Watkins’ death during a news conference Monday.

Watkins was shot and killed, near 6600 S. Maryland, March 11.

Her father was also shot, but he survived.

No arrests have been made.

There is a visitation for the infant Monday night near 7800 South Cottage at Leak and Sons Funeral Home.

Watkins’ wake and funeral are Tuesday at New Beginnings Church, 6600 S. King Drive.

Visitation will be held Monday night for six-month-old Jonylah Watkins.

Watkins was shot and killed, near 6600 S. Maryland, March 11.

Her father was also shot, but he survived.

No arrests have been made.

Tonight’s visitation is near 7800 South Cottage, at Leak and Sons Funeral Home.

Watkins’ wake and funeral are Tuesday at New Beginnings Church, 6600 S. King Drive.

Sources say the father and mother of 6-month-old Jenylah Watkins will arrive at Area South Police Headquarters tonight to talk with investigators.

Pastor Corey Brooks will join them.

The baby’s father, 29-year-old Jonathan Watkins is just out of the hospital and wants to make in known he’s cooperating fully with police to help find the person who shot and killed his baby.