A nine-year-old girl wearing a skunk costume was accidentally shot by a relative while attending a Halloween Party, according to ABC News . Presently, the child’s condition is unknown.
The little girl was wearing a black costume with a black hat when the incident took place. While playing on a hillside near the Halloween party, one of her relatives mistook her for a skunk and fired a shotgun in her general direction. Authorities airlifted the wounded child to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, which is over 30 miles from the scene of the crime. According to the National Post the nine-year-old was alert and talking at the time.
UPI reports that no charges have been filed against the relative. Police also believe that alcohol was not a factor in the shooting. However, authorities will continue to investigate the case before turning over evidence to the Beaver County district attorney’s office.
A number of readers at the Times Online have expressed outrage over the incident. Many have wondered what sort of people would keep a loaded gun at a Halloween party. What’s more, readers seem particularly concerned about the fact that the nine-year-old was left unattended on a hillside in the dark.
“I am not at all sure what the problem is with this situation. First, what kind of idiot has a loaded shotgun and a children’s Halloween party?” one reader wrote. “Even if there were a ‘skunk’ in the area, that certainly was not the time to dispense of it. Second, There must be some pretty big “skunks” in New Sewickley Township or some really “dumb” people. Third, this almost “smells” like a cover-up. Who is the shooter? Is it someone who is connected?”
Even if alcohol wasn’t involved, do you think someone should be held responsible for accidentally shooting a nine-year-old girl at a children’s Halloween party?
