City police chief Keith Sadler answers questions about the shooting of a 7-year-old city girl at a press conference earlier today.
(INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL/NEW ERA -- DAN MARSCHKA )
The 7-year-old girl who was shot in Lancaster city Tuesday night cried out, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die!" as her stepfather carried her toward the hospital, neighbors said.
The unidentified elementary school girl, who was struck by at least three or four bullets in the legs and torso, was in critical condition but showing signs of improvement at a Hershey hospital on Wednesday, police Chief Keith Sadler said.
The girl was wounded while playing with her sister outside of their house in the first block of West James Street, near its intersection with Market Street. Her mother and stepfather also were sitting outside of the home when the shooter opened fire just before 8:20 p.m., police said.
Sadler said investigators had not determined who, if anyone, was the intended target. No one has been arrested in the case, but the chief vowed that "nobody in this building is going to rest until this person is brought to justice."
"A crime like this - somebody has absolutely no regard for human life," Sadler said at an afternoon news conference at the downtown police headquarters.
The chief restated the department's earlier appeal for information from the public, specifically about a silver Mercedes-Benz or BMW that was seen leaving the intersection after the shooting.
Sadler said it remained unclear whether the shots came from the vehicle or whether the car was a target of the shooting.
"At this point in the investigation, we don't know if that vehicle was involved in the actual shooting of the little girl or a vehicle that possibly could have been fired at," Sadler said. "We don't know who the intended target was."
He said police were reviewing surveillance camera footage and interviewing residents of the block, which is between Prince and Queen streets.
Sadler and a police spokesman declined to identify the victim, who is believed to be a second-grader at Ross Elementary School, or her family. School District of Lancaster officials declined to comment and referred questions to police.
Sadler said he believed the family has lived on the block for only a few months.
"It was a mild night. A lot of folks were out, and they should have a reasonable expectation to sit in front of their house without being shot," he said.
Hope Nein, 23, who lives near the girl's home on West James Street, said she heard four gunshots as she walked home from a nearby convenience store.
After the girl was shot, her stepfather grabbed her and began running with her toward Lancaster General Hospital.
"She was crying her eyes out, saying, 'I don't want to die, I don't want to die!' " Nein said.
A passer-by stopped and gave the girl and her stepfather a ride the rest of the way to the hospital's emergency room a block and a half away.
Hospital personnel worked to stabilize the girl's condition before she was airlifted to Hershey Medical Center late Tuesday.
Witnesses told reporters that several people were sitting outside when a silver vehicle pulled up near the home and someone inside the vehicle began firing. They said the car fled north on North Market Street.
***Andrew Marshall, a community organizer and former Weed and Seed coordinator in Lancaster, said he was outraged by the shooting and wants the community to get involved in crime-prevention efforts.
He will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at New Life Christian Fellowship Church of Lancaster, 1501 Millersville Pike, where he is an elder.
"This was the last straw for me," he said. "We've done a lot of stop-the-violence rallies, a lot of marches. Our time to do something is now. We're going to organize, get some mentors into schools.
"When I (learned of) that little girl getting shot, it was just enough for me that we're going to do some stuff," Marshall said.
***City police ask anyone with information about the vehicle or the shooting to call them at 735-3300. Callers do not have to give their name to provide information. Tipsters also can call Lancaster City/County Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-1913.
tmurse@lnpnews.com
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