7-Year-Old Shot In Indio Sunday Night

A 7-year-old girl was in stable but serious condition today after being accidentally shot in the chest by another child during a family Mother’s Day party in Indio, according to a police spokesperson.

Ben Guitron said that the girl was apparently shot while in a bedroom with other children without any adults present.

“It was accidental, but we have to find out how it got to that point,” he said.

Guitron said authorities are trying to figure out how the gun was available to the children. But he said it is too early to determine whether criminal charges will be filed against any of the adults at the gathering at the home in the 83400 block of Ocean Breeze Lane.

The girl resides in Indio, but not at the home of the shooting, Guitron said. “She was there visiting due to the family celebration” when the shooting took place about 8:45 p.m. Sunday.

The girl, whose name has not been released, came out of the bedroom after the shooting complaining of chest pains and was driven to JFK Memorial Hospital by family members. She was later transferred to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

“We’re happy the child is in stable but serious condition, that gives us a sign of hope because last night we didn’t know which way it was going to go,” Guitron said. “Hopefully she walks away with just remembering she had a bad weekend.”

Guitron did not have details of how many children were in the room, their ages or who owned the gun.