A 6-year-old girl was shot in the back while she asleep in her home early this morning, one of two victims wounded by gunfire in Bessemer overnight.

Bessemer police responded about 1:30 a.m. to a report of a person shot in the 400 block of 30th Street South, said Sgt. Cortice Miles. When officers arrived at the home, they found the little girl suffering from what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the back.

The girl's mother told officers the girl was asleep when someone fired into the house. The girl was conscious, but was taken to Children's Hospital by ambulance in serious condition.

Earlier, about 11:10 p.m., officers were dispatched on a shooting at the Dartmouth Avenue Convenience Store, located at 2931 Dartmouth Avenue. Miles said officers found a black male lying outside the store on his back with a single gunshot wound to the arm.

The victim told officers he was shot while inside of the store by a person that he knows. That victim was taken to UAB Hospital.

Miles said detectives are looking into possible suspects in this case. Also, he said, they are trying to determine if the shootings are related. The home where the little girl was shot is across the street from the store.

Officers, he said, were not aware of any other person shot when they responded to the convenience store.

"We pray that this innocent young child recovers physically from this assault. It is also our prayer that she is able to overcome the indelible emotional scar that she will have to carry through life," said Bessemer police Chief Nathaniel Rutledge. "It is concerning that people are so reckless as to discharge weapons with no regard to where the bullet strikes."

He said they are still investigating to find out who is responsible and will hold them accountable. Anyone with any information on these cases is asked to call the Bessemer Police Department at (205) 425-2411 or the TipLine at (205)428-3541.