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Police seek gunman who shot girl, 9, in Pittsburgh's Hill District

PITTSBURGH — A 9-year-old girl was shot and wounded late Friday afternoon in the city's Hill District neighborhood, Pittsburgh police said.

Emergency dispatchers said the shooting was reported just after 3:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of Bedford Avenue at the Pittsburgh Housing Authority’s Bedford Dwellings apartment complex.

Authorities said the girl was shot in the ankle in a courtyard at the complex and was taken to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in stable condition.

Channel 11 News learned Saturday that the girl was on her way home from school at the time of the shooting. She suffered a fractured ankle and has since been released from the hospital.

Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Sonya Toler said officers believe the girl was not the intended target.

"It's unfortunate somebody gets shot like this,” Toler said. “It's outrageous."

Police said the shooter fled on foot. No one has been taken into custody.

Officials said Marion Henderson rushed to help after hearing the girl scream.

“I heard a little girl screaming in front of the house,” Henderson said. "I went to grab her, and she didn't even move. She was stiff like a rock, and I got the towel and compress on real tight."

Neighbors in the area told Channel 11 News they are calling for change after the shooting.

“They’ve been shooting all week up here. All week. Wake me up 2 in the morning to loud gunshots. I’m over it. I’m over it, and this neighborhood ought to be over it to. We need to do something instead of 'everybody don't know what happened' or they don't know who it was. I’m sick of this… I really am. I’m sick of it,” said Sonya Carpenter, who’s concerned for her own child.

Last year, a 6-year-old boy was shot in the hand in the area and survived.

Channel 11 News learned Monday that the Housing Authority is relocating the girl and her family in addition to reassessing its security measures. Workers pulled all the surveillance video from Friday and are working with Pittsburgh police to see if there are new ways to prevent future violent acts.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto today introduced a new program Monday aimed at curbing senseless violence.

"We have to make sure that every neighborhood is safe,” he said.

A pledge that Henderson hopes will turn into action because he said his neighborhood sometimes feels like a war zone.

"Shot the car window right here and another right there. Shot the little girl in the leg. Who the hell was he shooting at?” he said.

Anyone with information about Friday’s shooting is asked to call Pittsburgh police.

#BREAKING: 9-year-old shot in Middle Hill. Turn on WPXI-TV Pittsburgh at 5 for the latest!

Posted by WPXI Mike Holden on Friday, October 21, 2016