DETROIT (WWJ) -- A 3-year-old girl is in temporary serious condition after Detroit police say she shot herself while playing with a gun.
Police say the incident happened at a home on Littlefield, near West Chicago and Schaefer, on Detroit's west side just after midnight on Thursday.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Charlie Langton, who is live on the scene, said the child was allegedly playing with an assault-style rifle when it went off and severely injured her.
"I heard my neighbor screaming -- she has two children -- I heard her screaming and i said, 'Oh my god,'" said a woman who lives nearby.
The mother took the girl to the hospital where she underwent surgery.
Police found the rifle hours later, which was thrown in the weeds of an abandoned school yard about five blocks from the house. Police believe the mother's boyfriend disposed of the gun.
Police are questioning the mother because they say stories about how the girl was shot aren't matching up. The mother's car is also impounded. Her boyfriend is also missing.
Officials say the child is out of surgery but is in temporary serious condition.
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No one is in custody.
This is the fourth child shot in the past week in Detroit. Earlier this week a two-year-old girl was shot in southwest Detroit. Over the weekend two teenage girls were shot and last week a 13-year-old was shot and killed.
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