A 6-year-old girl was shot and critically injured in Milwaukee after gunshots were fired into a northwest side residence Sunday morning.
Police said the incident occurred at 7:30 a.m. on the 2400 block of North 49th Street, in the Uptown neighborhood. The girl suffered life-threatening injuries and a 29-year-old suspect was taken into custody.
A statement from Mayor Cavalier Johnson late Sunday night said the girl was 5 years old, but Milwaukee police confirmed Monday morning she is 6.
He said he was "extremely upset" that the girl suffered life-threatening injuring due to "reckless behavior."
"There are indications the person responsible has a history of arrests, including domestic violence," the statement said. “This is precisely the type of person that I’ve consistently said should not have access to guns.
The incident comes after a recent series of gun incidents involving young children. Ranyla Tharp, 2, and Akai W. Stilo, 3, were both killed in accidental shootings since July 1.
Roughly a third of U.S. homes with children have guns, and even young toddlers are capable of finding unlocked guns and are strong enough to pull the trigger, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The likelihood of an accidental death by a gun is four times higher in home with guns. The most effective way to prevent unintentional shootings is the absence of guns in homes.
For those who do have them, the academy recommends guns be locked away and ammunition locked and stored separately. Children and teens should not be able to unlock the boxes that store firearms, and guns that are loaded and unlocked should not be stored in a car or anywhere else on your property.
The academy recommends guns be unloaded any time they are set down.
United Neighborhood Center of Milwaukee, 1609 W. North Avenue.
City on a Hill, 2224 W. Kilbourn Avenue, during outreach events on the second Saturday of each month.
Milwaukee Christian Center, 807 S. 14th Street, at their food pantry, which operates Monday through Thursday, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, 2819 W. Richardson Place.
Neu-Life Community Development, 2014 W. North Avenue.
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N 64th Street.
COA Youth and Family Centers, 909 E. Garfield Ave. and 2320 W. Burleigh St.
Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th St.
Journey House, 2110 W. Scott St.
All Milwaukee Fire Department stations and health centers run by the Milwaukee Health Department also hand out free gun locks. Directories for fire stations and health centers are available online .