7-Year-Old Girl Critically Injured in Drive-By Shooting While Asleep at Home

Pageland, South Carolina — A 7-year-old girl is fighting for her life after being shot in the head during a drive-by shooting while she was sleeping inside her home early Sunday morning, according to the Pageland Police Department.

The child, identified as Skylar Baker, was struck by a bullet around 1:17 a.m. when gunfire was sprayed into her Pageland residence. Police say the bullet pierced the home and hit Skylar on the right side of her brain as she lay in bed.

Emergency responders administered first aid on the scene before Skylar was airlifted to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. She remains in critical condition on a ventilator and is expected to undergo a craniotomy, her mother, Essence Chambers, told ABC News.

“Before all of this, she was completely healthy,” Chambers said, describing her daughter as a “ball of energy” and a “happy child.” Skylar now has a plate in her head as part of her medical treatment.

Police have labeled the shooting a “careless act of violence” and believe it was a targeted drive-by. As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made, and the suspect remains at large. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Pageland Police Department at 843-672-6437.

“We are heartbroken that this little girl is suffering due to the actions of someone who had no regard for life,” the department said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the family.”

Pageland Police Chief Dean Short addressed the community in a press conference Monday, calling the incident “a terrible thing, especially in a small community,” and urged residents to unite in condemning violence.

Melissa Massey, a neighbor of the family, told local media that such violence is extremely rare in Pageland. “Drive-by shootings just don’t happen here,” she said.

The investigation is ongoing.