Three young girls were struck by bullets and injured in unrelated incidents today.  Two children were shot in their homes.  A third was in a car when she was struck. In each case, it is clear the child was not the intended target of gun violence.  No suspects are in custody. 

In the first incident, a 6-year old Louisville, Kentucky girl was struck by a bullet that passed into her family’s apartment.  The round was fired outside and police do not believe that the girl’s family was an intended target. Police are trying to piece together what happened outside the apartment and who fired the shots.  “This seems to be probably exactly what you think it is — a ridiculous consequence of gun violence,” a law enforcement officer said.

The shooting caps a record-breaking year in Louisville for shootings.  “Throughout this year in our city there have been many, many, many heartbreaking evenings for families across our city,” the law enforcement officer said.

In Atlanta, Georgia, a sleeping eight-year old girl was struck by a bullet in her bedroom.  She was hospitalized with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.  Police believe that someone may have intended to harm a member of the girl’s family.

Also in Atlanta, a 7-year old girl was driving with her aunt along Peachtree Street when they heard gunshots.  “They continued to drive and as they were on Interstate 85, the aunt noticed her niece wasn’t feeling well. That is when she realized the 7-year-old had been shot.  The girl is hospitalized after surgery and remains in critical condition.

Sources:

“’Ridiculous Consequence of Gun Violence’: LMPD Seeks Leads after Girl Wounded by Stray Bullet,”  WLKY (December 22, 2020).

Asia Simone Burns, “8-year-old girl Shot in her DeKalb Bed was not Intended Target,” Atlanta Journal Constitution (December 21, 2020).

“7-year-old in Critical Condition after Hit by Bullet in Shooting Near Phipps Plaza,” WSB-TV 2 (December 21, 2020).