LOCAL : Police Tell Why They Suspect Teen Brother Shot His Sister

A 12-year-old Anaheim Shores girl who was allegedly shot in the head Thursday by her 14-year-old brother remained in critical condition today as police revealed details claiming that the boy concocted a story about the shooting.

Lt. Marc Hedgpeth said 18 police officers searched the neighborhood for about an hour Thursday afternoon when the boy telephoned police to report that “three masked men” had broken into their home and shot his sister, Gema Marie Hubler, in the head. Police finally arrested the boy when evidence led them to believe that he had concocted the story and that he was responsible for the shooting.

During the search, Hedgpeth said a police helicopter circled above the neighborhood looking for a getaway car and police dogs attempted to track the alleged assailants, Hedgpeth said.

One man was briefly detained during the search after a neighbor reported that she saw a “man acting strangely.”

“Even though we felt uncomfortable with his story, we knew that if the ‘suspects’ got away because we ignored him, we would have felt bad,” Hedgpeth said.

Within an hour, Hedgpeth said investigators suspected that the boy’s story was concocted. Hedgpeth said the physical evidence police found on the scene did not match the boy’s story. He declined to elaborate.

Gema Hubler was in critical condition today at UCI Medical Center in Orange where she underwent surgery for a single gunshot wound in the head, police said.

Hubler’s brother is being held in Orange County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of attempted murder. His name was not released because he is a juvenile.