A 3-year-old girl was in critical condition early Tuesday after accidentally being shot by her 4-year-old brother, authorities said.
Joan Martinez of 1234 N. Campbell Ave. was the third child in three days to be shot while playing with a young relative. She underwent surgery at Children`s Memorial Hospital for a wound to her left forehead, according to a hospital spokesman.
Police would not release the names of the child`s parents or brother involved in the incident. The shooting occurred about 6:15 p.m. as the children played with a .25 automatic they had found in their mother`s bedroom, according to Detective Joe Mohan of the Grand-Central Area violent crimes unit.
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”They found the gun, and it accidentally went off,” Mohan said. The mother, who was in the living room, ”panicked and ran outside for help. She and one of the neighbors went directly to the (St. Mary of Nazareth) hospital, which is only about five blocks away.”
Police were notified of the shooting by St. Mary`s officials. The child was transferred about 7:30 p.m. to Children`s Memorial.
The gun belonged to a house guest and had not been recovered by police, according to Sgt. Lee Epplen of the Grand-Central Area violent crimes unit.
”The house guest came in, picked up the gun and ran away,” Epplen said.
On Saturday night a 4-year-old boy was struck in the head by a bullet from a gun his 3-year-old cousin was playing with in the cousin`s home in the 2900 block of South State Street, according to Detective Leo Wilkosz of the Wentworth Area violent crimes unit. The 4-year-old died Sunday, Wilkosz said. A 6-year-old boy was injured Saturday by a bullet from a gun his 10-year- old brother was playing with in their home in the 7300 block of South Vernon Street, Wilkosz said.