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Child hurt in Northwest DC shooting, police investigating

Police say a 12-year-old girl was taken to the hospital after being shot in the leg.

WASHINGTON — A 12-year-old girl is in the hospital after being shot on Friday. Police are still searching for the shooter. 

So far, no arrests have been made as investigators work to learn exactly what happened.

“It’s super sad," a witness who doesn't want to be identified said. "You wake up, look and see that a twelve year old girl got shot.”

Preliminary information indicates that DC Police responded to a call of a shooting in the 500 block of Peabody Street, Northwest, near Fort Slocum Park, around 3:30 a.m. When officers got to the scene they found the girl shot in the leg. She was taken to the hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening, according to police.

“I mean it’s tragic," a man who lives nearby, Joseph Kilfoyle said. 

Police are still searching for suspects in this case. The victim recalled seeing what she believed to be four teenage male suspects, all dressed in black clothing, armed with guns. 

People who live along Peabody Street in Northwest have a mix of emotions after this latest shooting.

“It’s always upsetting when something happens this close to your house, just generally with uptick in the city," Kilfoyle said.  "I have a daughter at home and I plan to raise her here.” 

 A man who didn’t want to be identified says he was coming home from work when he heard the gunshots around 3:30 am.

“Heard three shots tried to locate where they were coming from and seen two guys hop off the porch here and run down the block,” the witness said.  

 It’s unclear if someone inside or outside the apartment was shooting and where the girl was at the time.

WUSA9 also noticed detectives on scene combing through evidence and the Human Rescue Alliance taking a couple of dogs away from the property where this happened.

“You just want answers, you want to know what the situation is,” Kilfoyle said.

Parents say they’re worried about their children’s safety.

“We have kids," a concerned parent who lives nearby, Lauren Gordon said. "Right in this little area probably 10 or 12 kids within a block, more than that… so it’s just concerning.” 

“When you see more crime it does make it hard in that calculation around like raising your family and just thinking through these types of things," Kilfoyle said.

“I got two little girls as well stuff keeps you up at night as a parent so super sad," a witness said. "Praying for the family. I hope that little girl is okay.” 

Investigators are still working to determine what led up to the shooting. When WUSA9 crews arrived on the scene, they saw a broken window in the front of a multi-family unit. 

WUSA9 also reached out to the Humane Rescue Alliance about those dogs but haven’t heard back.

Anyone who may have information about this shooting that could aid investigators is asked to call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or text the department's tip line at 50411.

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