9-Year-Old Girl Mistaken For Skunk In Halloween Costume Shot By Relative

A nine-year-old girl dressed up as skunk in a Halloween costume was mistaken for a real skunk and accidentally shot on Saturday night by a relative with a shotgun in New Sewickley, Penn.

Police in western Pennsylvania said the male relative confused her for a skunk because she was wearing a wearing a black dress and a black hat with a white tassel for her costume. Police chief Ronald Leindecker said the male relative fired a shotgun at the girl and hit her in the shoulder, arm, back and neck.

The girl, who was not named, was flown to a hospital in Pittsburgh. Her condition on Monday was not known, but the nine-year-old was alert and speaking on the flight, according to news reports.

Police told the Associated Press the relative was not drinking and an investigation will continue to determine whether or not the relative will be charged in a few days.