Girl, 8, critical after being shot by classmate

Large- calibre pistol discharges in backpack of classmate, rips into student’s abdomen

BREMERTON, Wash. — A Grade 3 student was in critical condition at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center on Thursday after being shot in the abdomen the day before at a Bremerton elementary school.

According to Bremerton police, eight- year- old Amina Bowman was at Armin Jahr elementary school just before school let out when a .45- calibre handgun another student had brought to school discharged in his backpack.

The nine- year- old classmate was arrested and remained in custody Thursday. Police are trying to determine where he got the firearm. He could face charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, bringing a dangerous weapon onto school grounds and third- degree assault.

In an emotional news conference Thursday afternoon, her father, John Bowman, read from a short statement thanking doctors and Amina’s teacher, whom he credits with saving his daughter’s life.

His voice cracked as he talked about the pain his daughter, Amina, is facing.

“It’s difficult,” he said. “Anybody who has kids knows that you’d do anything to take away the pain she’s feeling and put it on yourself.”

Surgeon Eileen Bulger said the girl is “out of the woods” in terms of bleeding, but still faces a long and complicated recovery.

It’s too soon for a prognosis, she said.

She is heavily sedated and on a ventilator, Bulger said. But she has awaken and interacted with her family, signalling that there may not be significant neurological damage.

Amina faces many more surgeries and weeks in the hospital, Bulger said.

The bullet, which went through the girl’s right arm and into the right side of her abdomen, is still lodged near her spine, Bulger said. Doctors don’t think they’ll be able to remove it.

The mood was sombre Thursday morning as students returned to the school.

Grade 5 pupil Ellis Mcadoo walked into the school with his mother, but decided it was too soon to be back. They walked out and went back home.

“I tried to get him back on the horse, but it was just a little too much for him. I think he’ll be fine tomorrow,” said his mother, Christy Mcadoo.

Some parents consoled their children, reminding them school is generally a safe place, but accidents occasionally happen.

Bremerton School Board member Dave Boynton called the shooting a “rare, isolated incident.”

Boynton said the school board would review safety procedures after seeing the results of the police investigation.

“Right now our concern is with the child and how the child’s doing,” he said. “Obviously, this is a tragedy.”