By Mike McCombs
The Island News
PORT ROYAL – A 12-year-old Port Royal girl accidentally shot in the chest a week ago is home and on the road to recovery.
“I believe she’s home now and she’s up and walking around,” Capt. John Griffith, spokesperson for the Port Royal Police Department, said on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
According to police, the girl was shot in the chest by her 15-year-old cousin with a 9mm pistol Monday night, Aug. 19 at their home in Port Royal.
Port Royal Police officers responded to Shell Point Apartments around 10:55 p.m., for a report of a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, officers learned that the juvenille victim had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and had been taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) by a civilian. The victim was later transported to Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston for further treatment.
According to Griffith, during their investigation, officers and investigators learned that the victim’s cousin, a 15-year-old juvenile, had accidentally shot the victim while in the apartment, where they both lived. She was shot a single time in the chest with a 9mm pistol, according to Griffith,
Investigators believe the shooting was an accident.
“Yes, at this time, we’ve found nothing to suggest otherwise,” Griffith said the day after the incident.
Griffith said a third party not involved in the shooting drove both juveniles to the hospital.
Two firearms were subsequently recovered and seized as part of the investigation.
“At this time, we’re still trying to ascertain who the owners of the gun were,” Griffith said.
The 15-year-old juvenile has been petitioned to family court for Possession of a Firearm by a Person under 18.
As of Tuesday, there had been no additional charges filed, according to Griffith.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
