Teen Girl Fatally Shot By Stepfather After Being Mistaken For an Intruder

A 14-year-old Colorado girl was fatally shot by her stepfather on Monday after he mistook her for an intruder, authorities said.

A Colorado Springs Police vehicle is seen parked outside of a house where a 14-year-old girl was mistakenly shot by her stepfather at their home in northeast Colorado Springs, Colo. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. (AP/The Gazette, Kent Nishimura)

"The initial call came in as a burglary-in-progress," police spokesman Larry Herbert said, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette.

The shooting happened just before 6 a.m. after the girl attempted to enter the home's basement for an unknown reason.

"I heard three bangs," neighbor Jani Harvey told KDVR-TV. "They weren't all right together, it was like — bang, bang, bang."

[sharequote align="center"]"I heard three bangs."[/sharequote]

The girl was rushed to an area hospital where she reportedly died of the gunshot wounds.

Colorado Springs Police officers take down caution tape outside of a house where a 14-year-old girl was mistakenly shot by her stepfather. (AP/The Gazette, Kent Nishimura)

"I just feel horrible for the family," neighbor Megan Harvey, 17, told KDVR-TV. "I know my mom is freaking out, because it's kind of heartbreaking hearing that a child was shot at all — especially around holidays."

"To hear that there is a shooting across the street from your house, it's really scary," said Julia Harvey, 16.

According to the Gazette, no arrests have been made and the names of the involved individuals are not being released.

Police said there was "no reason to believe that there is any danger to the community," according to KDVR-TV.

--

Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

[related]