8-year-old Indiana girl dies after being shot in the eye with BB gun

An 8-year-old girl from Grabill, Ind., has died after being shot in the eye with a BB gun.

Deborah Kay Schwartz died Friday of her injuries, according to an obituary.

Schwartz was reportedly shot in the eye by a younger child in what is believed to be an accidental shooting. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition on Thursday.

The Allen County coroner's officer said Monday that Schwartz died of a gunshot wound to the head. Her death is still being investigated by the Allen County Sheriff's Department as well as the coroner and prosecutor's office.

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According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it receives reports of about four deaths a year in the U.S. caused by BB guns or pellet rifles.

"BB guns can kill a person," the agency said in its alert. "High-velocity BB guns, which have muzzle velocities higher than 350 feet per second, can increase this risk."

Manufacturers of such guns often include warnings that they shouldn't be used by anyone younger than 16 or without adult supervision.

Schwartz, who reportedly is the first homicide in Allen County in 2018, is survived by her parents and six siblings.

Grabill is about 18 miles northeast of Fort Wayne.

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Call IndyStar digital producer Dwight Adams at (317) 444-6532. Follow him on Twitter: @hdwightadams.

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