Girl, 4, Critically Injured in Shooting
A 4-year-old Moorpark girl was in critical condition Sunday night after she was accidentally shot in the head at a campground in the Angeles National Forest, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
Ashley Esquer was being treated at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and was expected to undergo brain surgery later Sunday at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, said Deputy Clay Porlier.
Esquer was struck below the left ear by a projectile about 2 p.m. while she was with her family at Frenchman’s Flat Campground just south of Pyramid Lake, Porlier said.
The projectile was fired from a pellet gun accidentally fired by Samuel Ortega, 26, said Porlier. Ortega, whose hometown was not released, was detained at the scene but released.
“He had a pellet rifle. I don’t know how it went off,” Porlier said. “But all indications show this to be an accidental shooting.”
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