8-year old girl wounded when loaded shotgun falls to floor in California

An 8-year old girl was sitting and watching TV with a 7-year old friend when a loaded, unsecured shotgun fell to the floor.  The gun discharged, hitting the 8-year old in the arm and torso with birdshot. 

An adult was resting in a bedroom, and other adults were outside.  The gun may have fallen because of a dog.

Luckily the 7-year old was not injured.

From the article:

The victim, whose name was withheld, was shot in the arm by a 20-gauge shotgun at a residence in the 9100 block of Oat Avenue in Gerber, a sheriff's press release said.

The shotgun had been left loaded and propped against a wall of the dining room with the butt of the gun on a small wicker chair when it fell and discharged a load of birdshot into the living room, the release said.

Pellets went through the arm of one of the couches and struck the victim in her bicep and abdomen causing major injuries.

The 8-year-old victim and her 7-year-old friend were watching television alone in the living room when the gun went off, the release said.

One adult was in a bedroom while the rest of the family members were outside when the incident occurred.

Deputies believe that one of the several dogs in the home may have bumped the wicker chair causing the shotgun to fall, the release said.

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