Police have made two arrests in connection with a Friday afternoon shooting that sent an 8-year-old girl to the hospital.

Karie Brown, 19, and Nathaniel Patten, 21, both of southeast Washington, have been charged with assault with intent to kill.

Patten's nickname is "Psycho," authorities said.

Emergency crews were called to the 1200 block of Valley Avenue SE around 3 p.m. and found the young girl, Makayla, suffering from a gunshot wound to her chest. Children in the courtyard where Makayla was shot pointed out the two suspects, saying, "There they go."

Makayla was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, but is now in stable condition following surgery.

Her mother told News4 that the bullet hit her lung, and that Makayla was on a respirator but responding to her mother's voice.

Family members told News4's Darcy Spencer the girl was walking from her aunt's apartment building to her mother's building. The area where she was struck is close to a playground.

The two suspects told police a different story, according to charging documents obtained by News4. They said they went to a home on Valley Avenue to buy an ounce of pot for $100, and Makayla answered the door.

During the sale, someone pulled a gun and there was a struggle; then the gun dropped, the suspects claimed, according to the charging documents. Patton picked up the gun and fired a shot, then Brown fired more shots outside as the man ran away.

However, the charging documents also say neither suspect had money with them to buy the drugs, which casts doubt on their story. Police said the two had masks with them when they were arrested, and a .22 caliber handgun was found nearby.