10-Year-Old Shot By Stray Bullet On New Year's Eve
ELKTON, Md. (WJZ) -- A 10-year-old girl is in critical condition after getting caught in the crossfire of a New Year's celebration in Cecil County.
Police said the girl was shot in the head when someone fired a gun into the air at midnight.
Rochelle Ritchie has more on the heartbreaking story.
The Cecil County Sheriff's Office is blaming celebratory gunfire for the girl's critical condition. She is fighting for her life and police are looking for a person who may not know their dangerous celebration led to such tragic events.
All is quiet right now on Ajs Court in Cecil County just one day after a 10-year-old girl was critically injured after being hit by stray bullet.
Lt. Michael Holmes says the little girl, who was visiting from Pennsylvania, was watching fireworks with her family when the celebration turned to a matter of life and death.
"There was numerous shots fired in the area. After speaking to witnesses, a shot was fired in the air and a bullet came down and struck the child in the head, causing the head trauma," said Holmes.
The little girl was taken to the hospital where she remains on life support.
Very few people on Ajs Court were willing to speak about Monday night's shooting. Those who did said it is a tragic reminder that what goes up must come down.
"That's definitely horrible. Nobody should have to deal with something like that, especially on New Year's and somebody that young. That's terrible," said Ryan Doyle.
Neighbors say they could hear the boom from fireworks going off but now wonder if the boom and bang was gunfire.
"They stopped and a little bit later the ambulances came," said Kris Collins.
The Sheriff's Office said the shots fired in the area were from celebrations happening as the clocked strike 12, welcoming 2013.
"Investigators are still out canvassing the neighborhood, trying to find out where the shots actually came from," said Holmes. "This is a unique situation for Cecil County."
The incident was a tragic reminder that even in the happiest times, tragedy can strike.
Investigators have not determined where the shots came from and are still looking for the shooter.
