An investigation has been launched after a 9-year-old girl was shot in the head at a birthday party in Minnesota.
The child is currently in a critical condition following the shooting which occurred on Saturday.
The 9-year-old girl was playing in the front yard at the time and was struck by the gunfire. The child was rushed to hospital in a police patrol vehicle as officers could not wait for the ambulance to arrive on the scene due to the severity of her injuries.
Police are still searching for the suspect after they fled from the scene. Speaking to Newsweek, Minneapolis Police spokesman John A. Elder said there is no update to the "open and very active" investigation and that the girl remains in critical condition in a local hospital.
In a statement, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's office said: "Mayor Frey's heart is with the family as they pray for their daughter's recovery. He is actively working with community and city leadership to reinvest in and rebuild community safety systems.
Girl, 9, shot in the head at birthday party during Minneapolis drive-by
No arrests have been made and the young victim remains in critical condition in hospital, say police.
