According to the police, two young girls are on life support after being shot in separate shootings in the Chicago's South Side on Saturday evening, according to police.

Authorities said that, the first shooting occurred at around 7:15 p.m. in the 1900 block of W. 57th St in the city's West Englewood neighborhood. A 12-year-old girl was playing with friends when the gunfire erupted, according to the police, who initially said she was struck in the head and taken to the Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

The family members clarified on Sunday that she was shot in the right side of the neck, shattering her spine. They identified the girl as Kanari Gentry-Bowers, describing her as "one of the sharpest kids you would know."

The relatives said that, Kanari remained on life support, adding the doctors told them that if she survives, she will likely be unable to walk again.

Family members said that Kanari was allowed to go to a basketball game on Saturday evening, then to a friend's house. She was playing basketball on the playground at the Henderson Elementary School when someone in a nearby car opened fire, family said.

Less than a half an hour later, another young girl was critically wounded in a separate shooting on the Chicago's South Side.

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According to the police, the second shooting occurred in the 6500 block of S. King Dr. in the city’s Parkway Gardens neighborhood. At around 7:40 p.m., an 11-year-old girl was sitting in the back of a car when the shots rang out, authorities said, striking the girl in the head.

According to the police, she was taken to the Comer Children’s Hospital, and was listed in the critical condition. The family members identified her as Takiya Holmes, and said that she too remains on life support.

Takiya’s grandmother Patsy Holmes said that, "when her mom called and said that Takiya had been shot, I thought she made a mistake.” Holmes also said Takiya was in the family’s minivan with her mother, aunt and 3-year-old brother when the shooting occurred. They were parked outside her mother's work, waiting for a co-worker, when they suddenly heard the gunfire.

The family is asking the public to pray for her recovery, and for anyone with the information on the shooting to come forward.

Chicago community activist Andrew Holmes said that Takiya is his cousin and he is offering $1000 of his own money as a reward to help in finding the shooter.

No one is in the custody for either of the incidents, and the authorities continue to investigate.The girls were among at least 21 people who were shot in Chicago so far in this weekend, including five fatally shot.

By Mrudula.