A 12-year-old girl who was shot during a drive-by shooting in Hartford Thursday night has died and an 18-year-old man is in critical condition, according to police.
The girl, 12-year-old Se'Cret Pierce, of Hartford, was a student at Milner Middle School, a grade 6 through 8 school in Hartford, and the school department said it will have increased support services throughout the day Friday.
Police said Se'Cret was in a parked vehicle when she was shot in the head and abdomen.
Pierce was initially listed in critical condition but died at 7 a.m. Friday.
Get Connecticut local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Connecticut newsletters.
“This is a painful day in our community,” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said Friday morning.
“I don’t have the words,” he said and told Secret’s family, “We are all so deeply sorry.”
Bronin said Secret was a 7th-grade student.
Local
The 18-year-old is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, police said.
“It’s very tragic, very unfortunate. Sickening,” Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said during a news conference Thursday night.
Officers responded to Huntington Street after ShotSpotter went off and the 18-year-old was found on the side of the road near the girl, who was inside a parked vehicle.
A 16-year-old male and a 23-year-old man were shot and took themselves to a nearby hospital. Their injuries are not life-threatening, according to police.
Boisvert said the 12-year-old, "likely had nothing to do with it." Officers believe the three males who sustained gunshot wounds were the intended targets.
Authorities said video surveillance in the area captured footage of a vehicle driving by and shooting at the three men. Police don't know if gunfire was returned. Officers are working to release a vehicle description to the public.
The Major Crimes Unit is investigating. Detectives have been door-knocking and reviewing surveillance video as a part of their investigation.
Police believe the incident was targeted.
Bronin is calling on the three other people who were shot to come forward with what they know to help investigators figure out who fired the bullets that killed a 12-year-old girl.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
