Girl, 9, Shot While Closing Door to Avoid Gunfire

A 9-year-old Highland Park girl was shot and critically wounded Wednesday when she heard gunfire and closed the door of her house to protect herself, police said.

“She was not the intended victim,” said LAPD Officer Don Cox. “There was an exchange of gunfire . . . outside her home, and she was in the process of closing the door . . . when she was hit.”

Police have not yet identified who fired the shots.

The incident occurred in the 5200 block of East Baltimore Street. The girl, whose identity was not released, was taken to County-USC Medical Center with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. She was undergoing surgery late Wednesday.