WILMINGTON, Del. (KYW Newsradio) — An 11-month-old girl is recovering after she was shot in the head in Chester, Delaware County, on Thursday night. After a preliminary investigation, officials said they believe the shooting will be ruled accidental.
Chester Police got a call at around 7:30 p.m. that a child had been shot, according to an official statement. Officers then went to a home on Frank Young Avenue close to 5th Street, which police say they found empty. They soon found out the victim had already been driven to Crozier-Chester Medical Center, police say.
The girls mother and some relatives and friends were at the hospital when police arrived. After getting treatment, the girl was taken to duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, police said, for "further intense medical treatment." She was listed in fair condition.
Police did not give details, initially, about the circumstances that led to the shooting. Investigation continues with the involvement of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.
The unintentional shooting of children is an ongoing problem, according to gun control and gun safety advocates. Brady, a gun control advocacy nonprofit, says eight children are accidentally shot each day in the United States in cases of "family fire" — that is, an incident involving a gun that is not stored properly or is otherwise misused in a home.
The organization Project ChildSafe has information on its website about where to get a free gun lock, as well as a listing of partner law enforcement agencies.
For Philadelphia residents, Temple University Hospital’s Safe Bet program provides gun locks, no questions asked, available through its website or at giveaway events.
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