Girl Mistaken For Skunk Gets Shot By Relative: Cops

10/21/12 11:31 PM ET

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FREEDOM, Pa. — Police say a costumed 9-year-old girl was accidentally shot outside a western Pennsylvania home during a Halloween party by a relative who thought she was a skunk.

New Sewickley Township police say the girl was over a hillside and wearing a black costume and a black hat with a white tassel. Chief Ronald Leindecker told the Beaver County Times that a male relative mistook her for a skunk and fired a shotgun, hitting her in the shoulder, arm, back and neck Saturday night.

Leindecker told the newspaper that the girl was alert and talking when she was flown to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, about 30 miles away. Her condition was unavailable.

Leindecker says the man hadn't been drinking and he doesn't know whether charges will be filed. New Sewickley police said Sunday that decision will be made in a few days.

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CherylAbs

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03:35 PM on 10/26/2012

I never saw a skunk the size of a newborn baby. To think that he saw a skunk the size of a 9 year old child is disturbing.

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Wendy Barnes

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09:32 AM on 10/26/2012

A relative on family property decides to shoot a gun at a Halloween party where kids are running around all over the place in costumes?! It sounds like a bad joke. Who would do this?

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supercarp

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11:34 AM on 10/25/2012

I think a good rule of thumb is, when there are children on the property, no firing of guns. Why on earth would you shoot at a skunk anyway when there are guests? The smell would be unbearable. The man must have dementia.

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dbrockskk1

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09:33 PM on 10/24/2012

a killing? with a gun? in this country?

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Kimberly Navarrete

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10:25 PM on 10/22/2012

What the heck.... Not drunk????? I can't believe a older man does not know the difference between a skunk and a 9 year old girl at a Halloween party? So then.......What kind of drug was he on???

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GunPoliticsBlog

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11:29 PM on 10/24/2012

stupidity is the first thing that comes to mind - any responsible gun owner knows to make dang sure they know exactly what their target is before firing.

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