A young Lancaster County girl who police say was hit by a stray bullet during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Maryland died on Thursday, according to authorities.
Family members say 10-year-old Aaliyah Boyer, of Manheim, was visiting her family in Elkton when she was hit by that bullet.
Aaliyah’s aunt, Ashley Rice, tells NBC10 affiliate WBAL TV, her niece went outside with her cousins just after the clock struck midnight to watch a fireworks display. Suddenly the young girl collapsed.
“At first we were like, ‘Hey, what are you doing on the ground? Get up!’” said Rice. “And she didn’t get up.”
Police say Aaliyah was hit by a stray bullet after local residents living on AJS court in Elkton fired their guns to celebrate the New Year. Investigators believe one of the rounds from what they call “celebratory gunfire” struck Aaliyah on top of the head.
After the girl collapsed, the adults carried her inside and performed CPR, believing she had passed out and hit her head. It wasn’t until paramedics arrived and took her to the hospital that they realized she had been shot.
“It went in her head and went back through the back of her head into her brain stem,” said Rice.
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Police are searching for the people or person responsible for the shooting. Officials are trying to figure out the caliber of the gun used in the shooting and have been going door to door, even confiscating some guns, according to neighbors.
No arrests have been made.
