Girl mistaken for skunk at Halloween party shot by relative
ASSOCIATED PRESS October 22, 2012 12:28PM
Updated: October 22, 2012 12:32PM
ROCHESTER, Pa. — State wildlife officials are among the agencies investigating the shooting of a 9-year-old western Pennsylvania girl who was wounded when a family member apparently mistook her costume for a skunk during a Halloween party.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife officer overseeing Beaver County tells the Beaver County Times he’s working with police on the investigation of Saturday night’s shooting in New Sewickley Township.
Police say the girl was shot around 8:30 p.m. Saturday by a family member who thought her black and white costume was actually a skunk. Investigators haven’t released the identity of the girl, who was flown to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Her condition wasn’t available.
New Sewickley police Chief Ron Leindecker says the girl was playing over a hillside near the house when she was shot.
