LOCAL NEWS

Shots Fired Into 9-Year-Old Girl’s Bedroom; Bullet Narrowly Misses Her

Sep 20, 2020, 4:17 PM | Updated: Nov 29, 2022, 11:00 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — A little girl is lucky to be alive after a stray bullet went through her bedroom window, just inches from her head.

The shooting happened near 200 East and Hampton Avenue in the Liberty Park area of Salt Lake City Saturday night.

The little girl’s family said they fear this was no accident.

“It’s terrifying,” said the girl’s father, John Wilson. “My daughter is completely terrified of it. She’s scared. She’s afraid to sleep in her own room now.”

With its shady trees and school around the corner, this quaint little neighborhood is full of promise.

“We know the people in this neighborhood very well,” said Wilson. “I’ve lived here for 25 years.”

But that’s where the charm ends, and Saturday night became a nightmare for John Wilson and his family.

“Someone had parked in front of my house,” said Wilson. “I went out there and asked them if they would move their car.”

Wilson said things quickly escalated.

“They just started giving me a bunch of guff and swearing at me and cursing,” Wilson said of a group of older teenagers. 

That’s when John decided to walk away, but he said the confrontation didn’t end there.

“About 30 minutes later, we heard 8 gunshots,” he said.

The shots were fired from the back of the house, through his 9-year-old daughter’s bedroom window to be exact.

Wilson thinks one bullet made it inside.

“She was sitting up in her bed, reading with a flashlight,” he said. “She heard the glass break when the bullet came through, and then she felt something kind of whiz past her. The bullet hit right over here, just inches away from her.”

Then John’s daughter heard something.

“She heard like a group of people laughing or something. Just a few seconds after that, we hear a car with squealing tires taking off,” Wilson said.

John said the bullet made a straight trajectory through the window and into a wall.

“The bullet came in here and went out of his forehead,” Wilson said, referring to the Winnie the Pooh teddy bear in his daughter’s room. “This was sitting in the window right where the bullet went through.”

It appears the shots were fired from the other side of the backyard fence, which borders the Liberty Elementary school soccer field.

Salt Lake City Police officers collected multiple bullet casings on the ground near the goal post.

John thinks the incident was a targeted attack — retaliation for confronting the group parked in front of his house.

“Absolutely, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.

Wilson said safety in the neighborhood has been on a downward spiral over the last year. He hopes things change before it’s too late.

“All of a sudden, now we’re having attacks on individuals,” he said. “My daughter came very close to being hit in the head with a bullet.”

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Salt Lake City Police.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

2 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

2 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

4 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

5 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

6 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Shots Fired Into 9-Year-Old Girl’s Bedroom; Bullet Narrowly Misses Her