Teenager held as shot girl dies

Kamilah was shot in the head at her house in Gorton

A 12-year-old girl who was shot in the head in an incident at her house in Manchester has died in hospital.

Police were called to reports of the shooting at an address on Wembley Road, Gorton, on Monday evening.

Kamilah Peniston was taken by ambulance to Manchester Royal Infirmary but died on Tuesday morning. Police said the weapon used was "powerful".

A 16-year-old youth, who was arrested on Monday evening, is being questioned about the shooting.

Kamilah had been transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital for treatment for the gunshot wound but died just before 0900 BST, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

'Tragic event'

Ch Supt John O'Hare said: "At this moment in time it is treated as a tragic event which is receiving full and thorough investigation.

"Our hearts go out to the family. It really does bring home the tragic and really evil consequences of firearms within our communities."

The shooting happened at a house in a council estate in Gorton at about 1930 BST on Monday.

Officers remained at the scene on Tuesday

A handgun that had been converted to fire live ammunition was recovered from the address, police said.

Mr O'Hare told a news conference in Manchester the weapon involved was "powerful".

"It's a weapon that you shouldn't have and it's a weapon that shouldn't have been with the individual last night," he said.

Tony Winter, the local street pastor, said the shooting sent a stark message.

"We don't realise when we have these weapons around that they don't have feelings and they don't have favourites," he said.

"Sometimes it takes a tragic event like this to re-focus our minds on the dangers of guns, or even knives, in our communities."

Forensic officers were at the scene on Tuesday examining the house and the street outside.

Gorton lies about four miles (6.4km) outside the centre of Manchester to the east of the city.

Although a poorer and run-down district of the city, the area is not known for gun crime and is currently undergoing regeneration.