11-year-old girl shot in the head in daytime shooting in Madison

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - A 11-year-old girl was shot in the head after suspects in a vehicle opened fire in the car she was in Tuesday morning.

Madison Police Chief Vic Wahl said in a press conference several hours later that at this time, police believe suspects intended to shoot the driver of the vehicle the girl was in. It is not clear what the relationship is between the girl and the driver at this time.

The shooting happened around 11:45 a.m. as people in two vehicles started firing at each other as they headed down East Washington Avenue Investigators believe the individual was shot near the Lexington Avenue intersection.

The victim is now in the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries, the chief said. The girl’s great-grandmother told NBC15 she pulled through her surgery and was placed in a medically-induced coma.

No suspects have been identified at this time.

Wahl said that Madison has now “hit a new low” amid rising gun violence this summer. The chief said that in June, police tallied 29 shots fired calls, which was the highest month since the department started tracking. Then in July, MPD recorded 44 shots fired. In August, Madison police counted a staggering 143 shots fired. Over 500 shell casings have been found by MPD this year.

Just this year, 28 people have been shot, Chief Wahl said, adding that the city needs to “hold these people accountable” and “provide a sense of justice for victims and their families.”

“You’ve heard me talking a lot about the surge and unprecedented level of gun violence that we’ve been seeing here in Madison. As alarming as all the statistics and numbers you’ve been hearing from me over the last weeks and months, today we hit a new low,” the chief said.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said that “we must tackle this immediately and from multiple angles.”

“The Police Department is working hard to find those responsible and hold them accountable, and I appreciate the hard work they are doing. I will advocate for common sense gun laws, and for gun owners to act responsibly to prevent stolen guns hitting the streets,” Rhodes-Conway said.

MPD responded to a shots fired call involving two vehicles earlier Tuesday morning. Investigators are working to find out if the incidents are connected.

Regarding the shooting, MPD officers have found multiple locations where the exchanges occurred. They say all of them were likely connected to this shooting. In one case, bullets struck a home and another vehicle that was not involved the in the gun battle was also struck.

MPD’s Violent Crime Unit has taken over the investigation and it has investigators working each of the scenes.

An NBC15 News photographer asked Mayor Rhodes-Conway during the press conference: “Mayor, is it time for the hostility between the council and the police to stop?”

Mayor Rhodes-Conway replied: “I think that our entire community has to work together. The [Common} Council, the Mayor’s office, the police, the D.A., the county, the courts - we all have to work together to bring an end to this gun violence. And yes, I think it’s time for everyone to do everything they can.”

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