SILVERHILL, Ala. (AP) – An Alabama man is charged with assault and a 3-year-old girl is recovering after she was shot with an arrow while attending a graduation party, police said.
An arrow skipped off dirt and sailed over a fence near where a party was being held Sunday night in Baldwin County, Silverhill Police Chief Kenny Hempfleng told news outlets. The blunt-tipped arrow struck in the chest of the child, narrowly missing her heart.
“It’s the last thing you’d think would happen at a nice party at somebody’s house with children involved. You’d never think something like that would occur,” Hempfleng said.
The child had to be taken by helicopter ambulance to a hospital in Mobile and was treated before being sent home. Ryan Archer, 35, was charged with second-degree assault, the chief said.
Archer and another person were practicing with a bow and arrow at the time, and Hempfleng said they didn’t intend to hurt anyone.