NBA Star Dwyane Wade's Cousin Shot and Killed in Chicago, Donald Trump Ignites Twitter War

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Dwyane Wade's cousin, Nykea Aldridge, was shot and killed while pushing a stroller in Chicago on Friday. She was 32.

Wade confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, "My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. #EnoughIsEnough."


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"The city of Chicago is hurting," the 34-year-old NBA pro continued in a series of tweets. "We need more help & more hands on deck. Not for me and my family but for the future of our world. The YOUTH! These young kids are screaming for help!!!"

According to CNN, Aldridge was heading to an elementary school when several men started shooting at each other. Two of the bullets struck Aldridge, one in the head and another in her arm. She was taken to Stroger Hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arriving. The child was not injured.

On Saturday, Presidential candidate Donald Trump also confirmed the news and weighed in on the tragedy via Twitter.

"Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago," he wrote. "Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!"

Trump's original tweet misspelled Wade's name. He deleted the post, then re-tweeted the same message with the correction, which received a lot of backlash from users of the popular app, who wrote things like, "YOU ARE DISGUSTING," "Buddy, you're a lame-o," and "how could you use someone else's tragedy as a way to campaign for yourself?"

Actor Don Cheadle also had a message for Trump -- "you are truly a POS."

"Sorry," he continued, "I misspelled "die in a grease fire."

Following the backlash, Trump tweeted, "My condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family, on the loss of Nykea Aldridge. They are in my thoughts and prayers."

Wade, who was raised in Chicago and recently signed with the Chicago Bulls following 13 years with the Miami Heat, has been an advocate for gun violence awareness. During the opening ceremony at the ESPY's in July, the athlete took the stage to deliver a powerful call to action against racial injustice and gun violence in America with fellow NBA players Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Chris Paul.


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"We cannot ignore the realities of the current state of America. The events of the past week have put a spotlight on the injustice, distrust and anger that plagued so many of us. The system is broken," Anthony explained. "The problems are not new. The violence is not new. And the racial divide is definitely not new. [But] the urgency to change is at an all-time high."

"The racial profiling has to stop," Wade added. "The shoot-to-kill mentality has to stop. But also, the retaliation has to stop. The endless gun violence in places like Chicago, Dallas and Orlando — it has to stop," Wade said. "Enough is enough."