By NATE KING
Salina Post
A 10-year-old girl is on the road to recovery after an incident in August left her with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the Salina Police Department (SPD).
The incident occurred on August 3 at a residence on Leland Way. The girl was initially transported to Salina Regional Health Center before she was sent to a hospital in Wichita and then to a facility in Kansas City for further treatment.
Officers arrived at the scene between 9 and 9:30 p.m. after receiving a call from the child's parent. According to SPD CPT. James Feldman, officers secured the scene before medical personnel arrived to assist.
SPD officers collected the firearm involved, believed to be a 9mm, as evidence. The firearm was not in a safe or in a secure location.
Feldman addressed concerns about the weapon's legality, clarifying that the gun's serial number had not been tampered with, as a news tip to Salina Post suggested. Feldman confirmed that the firearm was resting on a table shortly before the incident occured.
Feldman stated that no charges have been filed at this time, despite the potential case for child endangerment. He also mentioned that not all individuals involved have been interviewed, even though the shooting occurred in August.
"We also look at what you have is a misdemeanor. The most you can have is a misdemeanor, and then you have to balance what the family's going through," Feldman said. "Is that effective in establishing what you want to do?"
Kansas does not have a firearm storage statute, which might have applied to this case. Feldman noted that a city ordinance covering firearm storage was repealed.
SPD did not make the incident report pubmic until this week, more than two months after it occurred. When asked about the delay in reporting the case to the media, Feldman acknowledged that the public might raise concern but said the department is focused on completing the investigation.
The incident remains under review, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses. Salina Post has submitted a freedom of information request for the SPD report for this case. We are waiting to hear a response to our request.