Story posted Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Eight-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Shot
An eight-year-old Niles girl remained in stable condition Monday at Lutheran General Hospital after police said she was accidentally shot by her older brother.
Police said the girl was shot in the face Sunday by her 13-year-old brother in the basement of their family's home in the 8600 block of N. Oketo Ave.
The shooting appeared to be an accident, said Niles police spokesman Sgt. Tom Davis.
The two were playing in the basement of their home with toy guns when the brother retrieved a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol and shot his sister.
The bullet passed through the girl's cheek and out of the other side of her mouth without damaging any teeth, her tongue or any other interior parts of the mouth, said Davis.
The girl never lost consciousness and was talking to police officers after they responded to the incident.
The father said he was not aware there was a gun in the home. Davis said there were indications the gun may have been taken by the 13-year-old from a family business in Chicago.
The incident is being treated as an accidental shooting, said Davis. No charges will be filed. The incident remains under investigation by Niles police.
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