TRAGEDY!!! HONOR ROLL TEEN KILLED DAY AFTER PERFORMING AT OBAMA'S INAUGURATION

  As it pushes for national gun control, the White House on Wednesday addressed a tragic shooting close to President Barack Obama’s home in Chicago.

15 year old Hadiya Pendleton, who last week performed at Obama’s inaugural festivities, was killed when a gunman opened fire on a group of students just blocks from King College Prep and about a mile from Obama’s home in Kenwood on the South Side.

Presidential spokeman Jay Carney, asked about Hadiya’s death, said it was a “terrible tragedy” any time a young person is struck down “with so much of their life ahead of them.”

“The president and first lady’s thoughts and prayers are with the family of Hadiya Pendleton,” he said. “All of our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Hadiya’s death also came up at a news conference by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as a particularly violent January in Chicago draws to a close. Emanuel called Hadiya “what is best in our city” and urged anyone with information about the slaying to come forward. “If anybody has any information, you are not a snitch, you’re a citizen,” the mayor said. “You’re a good citizen in good standing if you help.”

Hadiya was wounded in the back and a 16-year-old boy — also a student at King — was shot in the leg, police said. The attacker got into an auto and fled, police said. No arrests have been reported.

Today, Hadiya’s family was inside their South Side home exchanging stories about her quirks and sense of humor. Ten-year-old Nathaniel Pendleton Jr. recalled the way his big sister would often greet him with a few gentle slaps on his cheeks whenever she came home from school. “She said it was with love,” he said.

Nathaniel etched “I miss you” and “I love you” on his arm Wednesday. “It’s very painful to see your big sister get slaughtered,” the soft-spoken Nathaniel said, tearing up as he went through photos of his big sister on his phone. Kimiko Pettis, Hadiya’s 32-year-old aunt, laughed when she talked about her niece’s goofy personality. “We really miss her,” Pettis said. “She was a remarkable young lady and such a great asset to our family.”