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9-year-old girl critically injured from accidental shooting in Baltimore, police say

9-year-old critically injured in accidental shooting, police say
9-year-old critically injured in accidental shooting, police say 01:27

BALTIMORE - A 9-year-old girl was critically injured after police said she accidentally shot herself in Northwest Baltimore on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Officers responded to a shooting in the 3500 block of Ingleside Avenue around 3:15 p.m.

When officers arrived they found a 9-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to the head inside of the location. She was transported to a local hospital where she was listed in critical condition.

Police Commissioner Richard Worley said they are investigating the incident as a "self-inflicted accidental shooting." However, due to the victim's condition, homicide detectives are also investigating. 

"She was stable enough to be transported to Hopkins for care and we hope that she can survive," Commissioner Worley said. "All indications are that the young lady got a hold of a weapon that was unsecured and shot herself."

Additional details

Worley said the girl was visiting her grandmother's home on Ingleside Avenue. He said the family found her hurt.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family," Worley said. 

Investigators spent several hours at the scene. Just before 8 p.m., they walked out of the home with a bag of evidence. 

Worley said several questions remain including how she got her hands on the gun and if the girl was home alone at the time of the shooting.

Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.

Gun violence in Baltimore

Baltimore City saw a drop in crime rates in 2024 as homicides were down 23% with a total of 201 reported. Non-fatal shootings were down by 34% with a total of 414 reported, according to Baltimore Police data.

Homicides have decreased by 41% since 2021, according to data from the Baltimore City U.S. Attorney's Office.

In 2023, 499 children and teens were threatened by gun violence in the city, the highest number since 2015, according to the Gun Violence Tracker. This includes 66 children between ages 1 and 12 and 433 teens between ages 13 to 18.

In 2024, 389 minors faced gun violence. 

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