barack_obama_59.jpgWASHINGTON (AP) _ A White House spokesman says President Barack Obama's thoughts are with the family of a 15-year-old girl who was killed in Obama's Chicago neighborhood after a gunman opened fire on a group of young people.

Press secretary Jay Carney said during a press briefing Wednesday that “the president's and first lady's thoughts and prayers are with the family of Hadiya (huh-DYE'-yuh) Pendleton.''

Police say there is no indication that Hadiya was the gunman's intended target in the shooting Tuesday in the South Side Kenwood neighborhood.

The teen had recently traveled to Washington, where she performed as a majorette at some of Obama's inauguration events.

Her death raises fresh concerns about gun violence in Chicago. Last year homicides in the city topped 500. There have been 42 so far this month.