A 15-year-old Ohio girl has died after being shot at Franklin Park during a fight in Columbus Monday, according to the Columbus Division of Police.
Police said the shooting happened around 3:20 p.m. A dispatcher said several teens were fighting at the park when shots were fired.
Assistant Police Chief Lashanna Potts said the girl, identified as Lovely Kendricks, was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in critical condition.
Police said she died from her injuries just after 9:30 p.m. Monday.
“Unfortunately, again, we’re standing here talking about gun violence,” Potts said. “Someone could potentially lose their life. We’ve said this over and over again, we’ve said it all summer, you don’t have to reach for a gun every time there’s an altercation. There used to be a time where people could have a fist fight and that’s it. They’re here to live another day. Unfortunately, with guns so accessible, people willing to use them for the minor altercations, this is what you have now, a juvenile in the hospital.”
Potts said Monday the city’s parks are “overwhelmingly safe.”
“This is unfortunate,” she said. “This could happen anywhere. Unfortunately, it happened today in Franklin Park.”
Police have not released any suspect information.
Police are asking anyone with video footage of the shooting or tips to call them at 614-461-TIPS or the Columbus Police Homicide Unit.
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