David Doyle Shoots Louisiana Girl In The Head Playing Hide-And-Seek On His Property

AP

A Louisiana man allegedly shot a 14-year-old girl in the back of the head while she played hide-and-seek with a group of friends on his property; he claimed to police he fired after spotting "shadows."

According to police, David Doyle, 58, has been charged with aggravated battery, four charges of aggravated assault with a handgun, and the illegal discharge of a firearm.

Police received reports of a gunshot early on Sunday morning in Starks, a small town close to the Texas border.

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The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said in a statement that investigators "found that several juveniles were playing hide and seek in the area and were hiding on the neighbor's property."

According to authorities, Doyle claimed that he "observed shadows outside his home, at which time he went inside and retrieved his firearm."

“He then advised detectives he went back outside and observed people running away from his property, at which time he began shooting at them and unknowingly hit the girl,” the statement says.

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Fortunately, the girl only had non-life-threatening wounds and was taken right away to a nearby hospital.

After going through the terrible event, her family notified KPLC-TV that she is doing fine.

According to the news source, the shooting happened on a dead-end street with only three residents: the suspect, the girl's family, and a relative.

With a $300,000 bond, Doyle was still being held in custody on Tuesday at the Calcasieu Correctional Center.

His arrest is the most recent in a string of shootings in which older persons reaching for their guns targeted youthful victims.

Ralph Yarl, 16, was shot in the head on April 13 in Kansas City, Missouri, by a resident after the teen mistakenly thought the house was the one where he was meant to pick up his younger twin brothers when he rang the doorbell.

The black honors student was seriously hurt but survived.

The 84-year-old Caucasian suspect, Andrew Lester, was accused of committing armed robbery and first-degree assault. He entered a not-guilty plea.

A 65-year-old man shot and killed Kaylin Gillis, 20, two days later in upstate Hebron, New York, as she pulled up to his driveway in search of a friend's home.

Following his arrest, Kevin Monahan, 65, was charged with second-degree murder. He entered a not-guilty plea.

According to the preliminary inquiry, the suspect shot two times, striking Gillis with one of them as the car's driver attempted to get away quickly.

Kurt Mauser, Monahan's lawyer, claimed that his client did not realize the revolver was loaded when he fired at the crowd.

"At a high rate of speed," the car was approaching Monahan's driveway, producing "an atmosphere and a fear that there was menace going on," he claimed.