Louisiana man charged after girl, 14, 'shot in head as she played hide and seek'

A man has been charged by police in Louisiana after a 14-year-old girl was shot in the back of the head as she played hide and seek.

Several children were playing hide and seek and were hiding on the man's property in Starks, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said.

David Doyle, 58, told detectives he got his gun when he saw shadows outside his home and shot at people he saw running away, unknowingly hitting the girl, according to officials.

The girl was taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Mr Doyle was arrested and charged with aggravated battery, four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and illegal discharge of a firearm, officials said.

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Shootings sparked by trivial circumstances

It is the latest in a string of recent shootings sparked by seemingly trivial circumstances.

Last month two cheerleaders were shot in a supermarket car park in Texas after one of them accidentally tried to get into the wrong car.

Another girl, Kaylin Gillis, 20, was shot and killed in New York state when the car she and her friends were driving in made a wrong turn while looking for a friend's house.

Ralph Yarl, 18, was shot and wounded after going to the wrong Kansas City home to pick up his younger brothers.