Two Chicago Men Charged in Shooting of NBA Star Wade's Cousin

CHICAGO (AP) — Two brothers have been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of the cousin of NBA star Dwyane Wade as she was walking to register her children for school, Chicago police announced Sunday.

In this July 29, 2016, file photo, Chicago Bulls player Dwyane Wade speaks during a news conference in Chicago. A family spokesman says a cousin of Wade's was fatally shot Friday, Aug. 25, while pushing a baby in a stroller on the city's South Side. Wade posted on Twitter: "My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal." (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim, File)

Darwin Sorrells Jr. and Derren Sorrells, 22, also were charged with attempted murder in Friday's shooting.

Nykea Aldridge, a 32-year-old mother of four, was pushing her baby in a stroller near the school when two men walked up and fired shots at a third man but hit Aldridge in the head and arm. Police say she wasn't the intended target, and the baby was not injured.

Police say the suspects in the shooting have criminal records. Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson plans to release more information at a news conference later Sunday.

These images provided by the Chicago Police Department show, from left, Darwin Sorrells Jr. and his brother Derren Sorrells. They have been charged Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Nykea Aldridge, the cousin of NBA star Dwyane Wade, as she was walking to register her children for school. (Chicago Police Department via AP)

Authorities are investigating whether the encounter between the men was a robbery, possibly involving a driver from a ridesharing company, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Saturday.

Chicago has been in the throes of a major uptick in gun violence this year, largely centered in a few South and West Side neighborhoods, after years of seeing declines. This July alone, there were 65 homicides — the most that month since 2006.

Wade, whose charitable organization, Wade's World Foundation, does community outreach in the Chicago area, signed with the Chicago Bulls in July after 13 years with the Miami Heat. He and his mother, pastor Jolinda Wade, participated Thursday via satellite in a town hall meeting in Chicago on gun violence hosted by ESPN.

Wade has reacted to his cousin's shooting only online, tweeting Friday: "My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. #EnoughIsEnough."

Wade also tweeted Saturday morning: "The city of Chicago is hurting. We need more help & more hands on deck. Not for me and my family but for the future of our world. The YOUTH!" adding in a following tweet, "These young kids are screaming for help!!! #EnoughIsEnough."

It is not the first time Dwyane Wade's family in Chicago has been affected by gun violence. His nephew, Darin Johnson, was shot twice in the leg in 2012 but recovered.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence sidestepped questions Sunday morning on CNN's "State of the Union" about the flow of guns into Illinois from his state as the U.S. presidential campaign delves into the issue of Chicago violence. Chicago police have said more than half of the guns used in crimes come from out of state, including about 20 percent from Indiana. When asked about it, Pence instead brought up failing schools in Chicago and his running mate Donald Trump's pledge to create jobs.