A Louisiana man is behind bars after police say he shot a 14-year-old girl for playing on his property Sunday afternoon.
According to Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened on Jimmy Doyle Road in Sparks, after the victim and several other children hid on 58-year-old David Doyle’s property. Doyle told police he saw “shadows outside his home,” and went inside to retrieve a gun.
He walked outside with the weapon and saw “people running away from his property, at which time he began shooting at them and unknowingly hit the girl,” the sheriff’s office said.
NBC 7 reports that the victim was taken to an area hospital after Doyle allegedly shot her in the back of the head. Family members told the outlet that she’s now “okay and recovering.”
The road where the incident took place, according to NBC7, is a “dead-end road” with only three homes, including the victim’s home, a relative of the victim’s home, and Doyle’s home.
“Things like this need to stop,” a family acquaintance told The Daily Beast. “I believe in people owning guns, but your life has to be in danger first. That man’s life was not in danger… It was just lucky, that her guardian angel had their hand on her, and it wasn’t worse than it was.”
Police arrested Doyle and charged him with aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a firearm, and illegal discharge of a firearm. He was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center.
This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo via Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office]
