Bullet through ceiling injures sleeping child in Durham apartment

Around 3:30 a.m., officers with the Durham Police Department responded to a shooting at an apartment complex located in the 4200 block of Garrett Road.

They discovered that a 10-year-old girl was injured while sleeping in her bed when a bullet came through the ceiling from the second-floor apartment located directly above her bedroom. The girl was transported to a local hospital where she is in critical, but stable, condition.

According to officials, police attempted to use small amounts of tear gas to force people from the apartment where the gun was fired. When officers searched the apartment from which the bullet traveled, it was empty, and no suspects are in custody at this time.

An investigation is underway.

“I am deeply disturbed and incensed at this act of violence, which resulted in the serious injury to an innocent sleeping child," said Durham Police Chief C.J. Davis. "The Durham Police Department is committed to identifying the individuals responsible for discharging the weapon used in this incident and pursuing appropriate charges against all involved.”

Neighbors had strong words for the person who is responsible.

"Immature, childish, irresponsible," said Yul Godfrey, who lives nearby. "Those were the things that ran through my mind, especially for that family. What happens if that bullet would have hit her in the heart? What would have happened if that bullet hit her in the head?"

Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator T. Scozzafava at 919-560-4583 extension 29357 or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.