Girl, 14, seriously injured in shooting near Elgin elementary school

ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) -- A 14-year-old girl was in a car near an Elgin elementary school when she was shot and seriously injured Tuesday.

Elgin police said the girl was a passenger in a vehicle driving near Lowrie Elementary School, at the intersection of Billings and Washburn streets, when someone fired shots from a passing car, hitting her. A man in the car with the 14-year-old was not injured, but the girl remained in serious condition Wednesday. She attends Ellis Middle School in Elgin.

Elgin resident Marylou Moser said she lives near where the shooting occurred.

"I heard three loud pops that seemed to be right outside here and a car take off, going east on Washburn," Moser said.

Lowrie Elementary parent Alex Hernandez heard what sounded like shots, too.

"It's just devastating," he said. "It's a shame that these things have to happen, especially near a school."

Police said the girl was not the intended target.

"The shooting does not appear to be a random act," Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley said Wednesday. "Detectives from our special investigations group continue to investigate the incident and have conducted another canvas in the area this morning. We will also be returning later this afternoon."

She said police were working to determine the intended target.

There was increased security at the elementary school after the incident, and parents were notified, Elgin District U-46 officials said. The shooting did occur about an hour and a half after students were let out.

"We ushered students into the school immediately (Wednesday), rather than have them line up outside of school," district spokeswoman Mary Fergus said. "And we did not have an outdoor recess today at the elementary. We'll do that for however long students and staff and the community feels it's necessary."

But the shooting does have community members worried.

"I have my little sister, who attends the school, my mother works in the school, her godmother works as a secretary at Lowrie elementary, so it's just a little scary," Stephanie Marquez said.

The man who was with the girl when she was shot is cooperating with police. No one was in custody Wednesday .