Girl, 10, Shot Near Gary; Gunman Was Reportedly Aiming For Dog
GARY, Ind. (CBS) -- A 10-year-old girl was shot and wounded Tuesday afternoon in an unincorporated area near Gary.
The Lake County, Indiana Sheriff's Department said around 3:30 p.m., the girl was wounded by gunfire in the 4100 block of Cleveland Street in Calumet Township. The girl was shot in both legs and was taken to Methodist Northlake Hospital in Gary, police said.
Police said information gathered so far indicates that a man in a blue or silver minivan pulled into the parking lot of a discount store, when a dog the girl was walking along with her two brothers, ages 13 and 14.
One of the brothers said the dog apparently ran toward the minivan, and at that point, the man opened fire at the dog with what appeared to be a 9mm handgun.
But the gunfire missed the dog and hit the girl multiple times in her legs, police said.
The girl, Emily Sotelo, was still standing hours later as CBS 2 talked with her family.
"I just want justice, and this should never have happened to nobody's kids at all. This is just wrong," said Emily's father, Manuel Sotelo. "But I'm happy just knowing that my baby's all good. That's a miracle."
Emily's father said the 10-year-old still had a bullet lodged in her leg Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Lake County Sheriff's police officers searched the area and were still looking for the van.
"It's simply heartbreaking to learn that a 10-year-old girl walking her dog ended up getting shot multiple times," said Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. "Our prayers are for her speedy recovery."
Martinez said police were taking statements from witnesses and were trying to collect video surveillance or doorbell cam video from the area.