Inez McGhee Accidentally Shot at Shooting Gallery, June 1, 1924

Durham Girl Hit by Stray Bullet Near Washington. . . Little Inez McGhee, 12, of Ridgeway Avenue in Washington Hospital. . . Visiting Aunt. . . While Strolling Through Amusement Beach, Is Seriously Wounded. . . Parents Are Anxious. . . Pupil of Edgemont Graded School in This City—Her Father May Go to Her Bedside Today

By the Associated Press

Washington, May 31—Inez McGhee, 12, of Durham, N.C., is in a critical condition at Emergency hospital here tonight as a result of being struck by a bullet fired from a shooting gallery at Arlington Beach, Va. The accident occurred yesterday when the child, who is visiting here with her aunt, Mrs. Mabel Dilger, went to spend the day at the nearby amusement beach, which is managed by her uncle.

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Inez McGhee, a pupil at Edgemont school during the past term, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest McGhee of Ridgeway street, near Alston avenue, and has spent practically all her life in this city.

Two weeks ago the little girl went to Washington to visit her aunt, Mrs. Mabel Dilger, of 502 Wilkerson building, and was to have returned to Durham last night.

Since leaving Durham little Inez has written her parents several times and in her last letter stated that she was to leave Washington on Saturday. On Friday, however, according to a message received here, she went to Arlington Beach to spend the last day of her vacation trip. While watching the various attractions she strolled dangerously near a shooting gallery and was struck by a flying .22 calibre rifle bullet.

Persons nearby saw the little girl fall and rushed to her assistance. She was rushed to Emergency hospital where she was found to be in a grave condition.

First information of the accidental shooting was received indirectly b the parents here about noon yesterday and for hours they were kept anxiously waiting further details. At first no intimation how the accident occurred was made and the shooting was to relatives here a mystery. At a late hour last night no additional news was received concerning the little girl’s condition.

It is probable that the father will go to Washington. As yet the parents do not know what part of the body their child was struck, who fired the shot, or under what particular circumstances the shooting occurred. While the message only stated that Inez was shot Friday, it is thought to have been late in the day. The aunt, Mrs. Dilger, is at the girl’s bedside.

From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, June 1, 1924