Vinton girl suffers gunshot wound to head, in critical condition

VINTON - A teenage girl is in critical condition at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after suffering a gunshot wound to the head.

According to the Vinton Police Department, police and the North Benton Ambulance responded to the 1200 block of W. Fourth St. at 6:18 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a teenager who had been shot. There, police learned that another teenager had been handling a .22 caliber rifle and the 14-year-old female victim was shot in the head.

Vinton Police Chief Ted Paxton said police are not prepared to release whether the shooting was accidental or not.

'Obviously, the incident is still under investigation,” Paxton said. 'We still have some interviews to do yet. We really don't want to imply anything at this time.”

That said, no one is in custody at this time, Paxton said.

Paxton said the shooting occurred inside the residence. There were other adults present at the time, he said.

Police said the girl was treated at the scene and transported to Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton before being transferred via helicopter to UIHC.

The girl remains in critical condition at this time, police said.