4-Year-Old Girl Improving After She Was Shot In Stomach
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 4-year-old girl who was shot in the stomach Monday afternoon was doing better on Tuesday, and has been moved out of the intensive care unit.
CBS 2's Susanna Song reports Khalise Witherspoon was shot while riding her scooter in a Marquette Park alley.
"Doing normal things that normal kids do; I mean, it's just bad. We've got to stop the violence, man. I mean, it's getting ridiculous," said her grandfather, Richard Spires.
Police said a man appeared in an alley and began shooting as Khalise was on her scooter, wounding her and a 31-year-old man.
Police sources said it appears Khalise's family has gang ties, and a relative of the girl was the intended target.
Khalise was initially listed in serious condition when she was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, but had been upgraded to good condition Tuesday morning, and she was moved out of the ICU.
Doctors told her family she's lucky the gunshot wound was through-and-through, and the bullet did not end up lodged inside her.
"She's alert, she's sitting up a little bit, and she's just in a lot of pain from the gunshot wound. Outside of that, she's in good spirits," Spires said.
He spent the night at the hospital with his granddaughter.
"I went out and bought balloons and stuff for her last night," Spires said.
Khalise's condition has improved so much, she was craving a hearty meal Tuesday morning.
"Doctor asked her was she hungry, and she said "yeah," and the doctor asked her what she wanted to eat, and she said steak," Spires said.
It's unclear who the second victim of the shooting is. Khalise's family said he's not related to them.
They also denied a member of the family was the intended target.
"No, that's not the case," Spires said. "There was no other one out there, other than the kids, you know? So how could it be an intended target when it's just kids out there? You mean to tell me they're the target? Come on, now."
Police have made no arrests in the case.
Though her condition has improved, her family said Khalise likely would not be released from the hospital on Tuesday.
