An 8-year-old girl is fighting for her life and an intense manhunt is underway after she was shot in the head by a stray bullet in Camden, New Jersey.
Gabby Hill-Carter was caught in the crossfire around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday as she stood on the sidewalk at S. 8th and Spruce streets.
"I thought it was fire crackers to tell you the truth," said Morgan Sellers who lives near where the shooting took place.
"It was so many of them. It was so close by the windows I actually saw the lights. But just to hear that it's a shame. And to hear the little girl in the mix of all this get shot," she said.
Hill-Carter was taken to Cooper University Hospital and she remains in critical condition Thursday with her mother by her side, police said.
"I can't even imagine what she's going through at this point in time," said Camden County Police Chief J. Scott Thomson. "I assured her that we're going to do everything we can to bring the cowards responsible for this. Bring them to justice and hold them accountable for their actions."
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Thomson said the shooting was gang-related and that they were searching for four men. The suspects were last seen jumping in a car and fleeing the scene at a high-rate of speed. Detectives are reviewing surveillance video, but were not ready to release it Thursday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI are assisting in the investigation, Thomson said. Police were also going door-to-door in the neighborhood hoping to find some clues.
A reward for information leading to an arrest was increased to $6,000 Thursday evening as police asked residents to ditch the no snitching philosophy.
Anyone with information on the shooting should call the tip line at 856-757-7042.
