A 9-year-old girl was injured during a drive-by shooting overnight in Orlando after more than 30 rounds were fired at a house, deputies said.

  • Shooting happened just before 5:30 a.m. on 22nd Street
  • Girl, 9, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, expected to be OK
  • At least 30 rounds fired from 3 different guns

The shooting happened at about 5:21 a.m. on 22nd Street near Nashville Avenue.

Jane Watrel, public information officer with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, said at least 30 rounds were fired from three different guns in an overnight "melee."

A male resident in the home returned at least six shots, Watrel said. The girl, her 5-year-old brother and four adults were in the home at the time of the shooting, according to deputies.

“I came outside to have a cigarette around 5 o’clock and I heard gunfire. I ran back in my house and didn’t come back out till I heard the cop cars coming,” said Michael Carroll, a neighbor. He said he heard at least 15 to 20 gunshots.

Watrel said the girl's parents are out of town, so she and her brother were staying with family friends.

Deputies said the girl's leg injury was from a bullet from one of the suspects' guns. She was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando with non-life-threatening injuries. Watrel said the girl was listed in stable condition.

"It's deeply concerning to us — this level of gun violence," Watrel said. "We want to find who did this."

Watrel said it appears the home was targeted, and the homeowners are cooperating with investigators. The girl has been reunited with her mother and will be hospitalized overnight.

After investigators left the scene Tuesday, neighbors were left to pick up the pieces---like across the street, fixing a window, pierced by a stray bullet.

“I’ve lived here for two years, and nothing on this corner or this street ever happens like that,” Carroll said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477). Tipsters may remain anonymous.


(Jerry Hume, Staff)