Teen Inaugural Performer Killed: Hadiya Pendleton, Majorette in King College Prep High School Band, Shot to Death in Chicago [PHOTOS]

Reports confirm that Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old teenager who performed at some of President Barack Obama's recent  inaugural events as a Majorette/dancer in the King College Prep High School band, was shot and fatally killed in Chicago on Tuesday, January 29. Local authorities claim that Pendleton passed away at a city hospital after being shot in the back at a South Side park.

According to ABC News, Pendleton was one of approximately 12 teenagers huddled under a canopy in the park after school in order to escape the heavy rainfall on Tuesday afternoon. An unidentified man then jumped a fence and ran toward the group of teenagers, sporadically opening gunshot fire. The shooter quickly fled the scene in a nearby vehicle - no arrests have yet to be made.

Police do not believe that Pendleton was an intended target of the shooting - she just happened to be an innocent bystander who tragically fell victim to the open gunfire (most likely involving Gang activity). One other teenager was injured during the shooting - a boy (who friends identify as17-year-old Lawrence Sellers) was shot in the leg and expected to fully recover.

Pendleton was a Sophomore honor student who belonged to the Majorette dance team in the King College Prep High School band. She had the privilege to perform as a member of the band at several prestigious inaugural events in Washington, D.C. earlier this month.

Pendleton was a well-liked student who was also a member of the Drill and volleyball team. Fellow students wore red to school on Wednesday in remembrance of their murdered classmate, and several took part in a prayer circle.

According to fellow student Janai Bates - "Lawrence and Hadiya aren't the type of people to get in a conflict with anybody... Everybody loved them, they joked with everybody, they give out that warmth" (Daily Mail).

Pendleton's death comes just days after Obama (whose Chicago home is only a mile from the murder scene) announced plans to ban assault weapons as part of a drastic overhaul of gun laws.

Thoughts and condolences go out to the friends and family affected by Pendleton's unexpected and unfortunate passing.