2-year-old shot in the head on Detroit's east side
DETROIT (WJBK) - A 2-year-old girl is in the hospital after being shot in the head on Detroit's east side.
Police say the 2-year-old girl was shot in the 16400 block of Fairmount Wednesday night just after 8 p.m.
The area is near the intersection of 8 Mile and Kelly Rd. on Detroit's east side.
The little girl was sitting in the car with her father outside of the house when her dad and the suspect got into a fight. The suspect walked away and came back with a gun and shot up the girl.
The girl was hit with a bullet in the head. The suspect's target, her father, was uninjured.
Police said the suspect is 30-year-old Cleveland Smelley. He's described as 5'10", 220 lbs, wearing all gray. It's believed a black Chevrolet Tahoe was involved in the shooting.
"We can't police stupid. It's not against the law to be stupid. When you pull out a gun and there's kids in the area, common sense should tell you not to do it," Assistant Police Chief Steve Dolunt said.
"Rather than arguing about it, one of the individuals was given a gun. He shot at the father, missed the father. A bullet entered the car, hit the girl in the head," Dolunt said.
Police arrested one man on the scene and they said he was the man who brought Smelley the gun. But they want the man who pulled the trigger in custody as soon as possible and they say Smelley is a dangerous man.
"He's been through system and is on parole for similar offense," Dolunt said. "We don't want anyone else getting hurt - officers or him. We prefer he turns himself in or his family gives him up. We don't want anybody else hurt."
Police have arrested a second suspect related to the fight that led up to the shooting.
The 30-year-old man is out on parole and has served time for assault with a dangerous weapon, felony firearms, and assault with intent to commit bodily harm.
The young girl is listed in critical condition at a nearby hospital.
Edit: Police had originally said the little girl was 3 but advised late Wednesday that the girl is 2.