LYNCHBURG, Va. – A four-year-old girl is recovering after a shooting in Lynchburg Tuesday night. Police said the incident happened near the Liberty Gas station on Campbell Avenue and the child is expected to be okay.
A neighbor caught the shooting on camera and showed 10 News the video Wednesday, but the neighbor could not share a copy.
In the surveillance video, you can see people hiding behind a house across from the gas station while a van is parked at the gas pump. As the vehicle leaves the parking lot, four individuals jump out and shoot. The van raced down Light Street, making a left on Campbell Avenue.
Police said the suspects fled on foot.
Neighbors said their hearts broke when they heard a child was shot nearby.
“It’s horrible and makes me glad we’re moving [from the area]. It’s just something that shouldn’t happen,” said Ellen Murch, a mother who has a young child.
Murch lives nearby and said she heard the gunfire.
“I heard a ‘pow pow pow,’ and our neighbors were having a party next door, so I thought maybe they decided to light off some firecrackers,” said Murch.
Lynchburg police said the incident happened just before 10 p.m. Tuesday. Minutes later, officers responded to Lynchburg General Hospital, where the child arrived with a gunshot wound.
Police said the four-year-old was a passenger in the van. Authorities are still searching for the four suspects.
“It’s really scary,” said Jimmy Murphy.
Murphy told 10 News he heard the gunshots and called 911, but he still feels safe living nearby.
“This is only like three or four incidents that has happened in the last 20 years,” said Murphy.
Murch said the gunfire was surprising, but the police presence was not.
“We have seen police cars up there at that Liberty Gas station just about once a month it seems,” said Murch.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Dubie at 434-455-6102 or Crime Stoppers at 888-798-5900. Enter an anonymous tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3 app on a mobile device.
Anyone who may have captured video of this incident on a security or doorbell camera is asked to share the footage on the Neighbors portal.