Girl, 5, Accidentally Shoots Herself In The Stomach
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago police were investigating how a 5-year-old girl got her hands on a gun, after she accidentally shot herself in the stomach Tuesday night at a home in the East Garfield Park neighborhood.
Police said the incident happened around 8 p.m. at a home in the 3700 block of West Ferdinand Street. The 5-year-old girl shot herself in the abdomen with a handgun. Her family drove her to Rush University Medical Center, and she later was transferred to Stroger Hospital.
The girl was in serious condition Wednesday morning.
Police said the girl's mother, 22-year-old Larrinata Starks, has been charged with misdemeanor child endangerment.
It was not immediately clear how the girl got the gun, or who was home with her at the time.
"For anyone to own a gun and be irresponsible, leaving a gun lying around somewhere for a kid to have access to it, anything could happen. Kids are going to be kids, you know what I mean? They think it's a playtoy, or whatever. So grown-ups should be more responsible if they're going to have a firearm," said one neighbor, Rev. Lew Porter.
Starks was due in court on March 16.