7-Year-Old Girl Shot By Cousin At Family Party

MONEE, IL - A 7-year-old girl has survived after she was accidentally shot by her cousin, a 7-year-old boy, at a family party in unincorporated Monee earlier this month.

Will County Sheriff's Office Spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said police responded to a residence in the 24000 block of South Pine Ridge Drive at 5:49 p.m. on July 7, when they found that the two 7-year-olds were in an upstairs bedroom on their own while several adults were at the home for a party.

Hoffmeyer said that the young boy found the gun, a .22-caliber Marlin model 60 rifle, in a bedroom closet and that it belonged to his father. While the two children were playing, the gun went off and struck the young girl in the lower jaw.

She was "breathing and conscious" when police arrived, according to Hoffmeyer. The injuries she sustained were not life-threatening.

The owner of the gun had a valid FOID card and has not been charged in connection to the incident. He told police he received the rifle earlier that week and that he did not know the gun was loaded.

The girl was initially taken to Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. A family member said she was then taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.

An investigation into the incident remains open, Hoffmeyer said.

Image via Shutterstock