Springfield police searching for person that shot 11-year-old - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Springfield police searching for person that shot 11-year-old girl

Posted: Updated:
By Samantha Lavien - email

  • Heartland News

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:04 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:04:34 GMT
    The rights of parents in Illinois to decide if their child can tan in a tanning bed could soon be taken away. That's what will happen if Governor Pat Quinn signs House Bill 188 into law. The bill is currently
    The rights of parents in Illinois to decide if their child can tan in a tanning bed could soon be taken away.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:01 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:01:38 GMT
    In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Heartland educators vowed to step up intruder training for every teacher. Many actually learned exactly what steps to take to react if an active
    In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Heartland educators vowed to step up intruder training for every teacher.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:50 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:50:49 GMT
    You might think it's a problem in foreign countries, or big cities, but the SEMO Rescue and Restore Coalition said human trafficking is a problem in the Heartland.
    You might think it's a problem in foreign countries, or big cities, but the SEMO Rescue and Restore Coalition said human trafficking is a problem in the Heartland.
    •   
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WSHM) -

Springfield police are searching for the person responsible for shooting an 11-year-old girl over the weekend.

"I'm looking you all straight in the eye, people who were there, you know who did it, and just think if this was to happen to one of your own family members," said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

Monday, Sarno asked members of the public to come forward with information about Saturday's shooting that sent a young girl to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg.

"People saw what happened. It's time for each and every one of you to be part of the solution," said Sarno.

The shooting happened outside of MadRag on Boston Road where people were waiting in line to buy the new Nike Air Jordans at Expressions just a few stores down.

"It was thugs, possible gang-related people that went up there," said Springfield police Sgt. John Delaney. "They tried to cut a line."

Delaney said the girl was not the intended target, but an innocent victim.

"They tried to cut a line and people that were in line took offense to that," said Delaney. "There was a verbal altercation that led to a physical altercation, which then led to the shooting, which then led to an innocent girl getting shot in the leg."

The mayor said he spoke with the girl's mother Monday morning and that although she is shaken, she is recovering.

"She's healing," said Sarno. "She's traumatized, and she's in pain."

And as police continue to search for the person responsible the mayor is asking witnesses to break free from the culture of not speaking up.

"Step up and be a hero, take these people off the streets so no one else's family can be affected negatively," said Sarno.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Springfield Police Department's Detective Bureau at 413-787-6355 or to use text a tip. Tips can be sent to CRIMES (274637) text SOLVE in the message body and then your tip.

Copyright 2013 WSHM (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.