IONIA — An 11-year-old girl is recovering at home after she was accidentally shot on March 7 at a residence in Ionia.

According to the Ionia Department of Public Safety Detective Sgt. Cory McDiarmid, IDPS officers were dispatched around 5:10 p.m. to Sparrow Ionia Hospital to investigate a report of a gunshot victim.

Officers spoke with family members, who had transported the victim to the hospital, and learned that the child had been shot through the shoulder and had non-life-threatening injuries. She was treated in Ionia and then flown to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital as a precaution and for follow-up treatment, McDiarmid said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a loaded gun was left unsecured in the home on E. Main Street near Cleveland Street, where the victim and an 11-year-old friend were visiting. The children discovered the gun, and the shooting appears to have been accidental.

“Details with regard to how the gun went off are still being investigated,” said McDiarmid.

The victim is expected to make a full recovery. When the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to the Ionia County Prosecutor’s Office for possible criminal charges, McDiarmid said.

“We should all take a moment to recognize the families were fortunate that something more serious didn’t come from this, and all learn from it,” he said. “Gun owners should always be aware of the location of their guns and who has access to the guns, and parents should also take the time to talk to their children about the dangers associated with firearms.”