Watch CBS News

Close Call For Young Girl In Creasantville Shootout

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Shocking evidence of Philadelphia's troubles with gun violence -- a young girl narrowly escaped disaster just steps from her front door.

Family members say they can't help but feel grateful the 8-year-old got nothing but a scare. They say it was just before dinner, one minute two little girls were out playing then came the gunshots.

"It went right through the ear part," Steven Brown said.

Brown says his 8-year-old granddaughter Kaniyah had no idea what had happened.

"She was playing with her doll with her girlfriend and she thought her girlfriend had hit her," Brown explained.

Turns out, it was a stray bullet from a shooting up the street. Police say it happened Thursday evening at the Hillcreek Apartments managed by the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

"Grandma hurried up and got them in the house, I had run over to see what was going on, I turned around and disaster struck."

According to eyewitnesses, it happened so quickly, they had little time to react. They say bullets flew in all directions, including one that traveled across a yard then ricocheted off the wall before it got lodged in the doll's head.

Brown said, "I pulled the bullet that was sitting in the doll's head, set it on the table, was trying to figure out what it was and the cops looked at it and said, 'It's a 9mm'."

Brown says he's just relieved his family escaped unharmed. Little Kaniyah is staying at her father's this weekend and after this close call, the rest of the family is now looking to move.

"I was terrified. It's time to get out of Hillcreek," Brown said.

As for the shooting, police say a 17-year-old boy was shot in the leg. The motive remains unclear as sources say the shooting victim is not cooperating. The search for the suspect is continuing.

Reported by Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.