Lehigh Acres man shoots daughter while cleaning gun

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LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. – The state Department of Children and Families is investigating an incident where a 28-year-old man said his gun accidentally discharged, shooting his 4-year-old daughter in the arm.

The incident happened at about 10:22 p.m. Sunday inside David Valle’s home on Southwest 25th Street, a report from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Valle told deputies he was cleaning a .40 caliber pistol when it discharged.

Valle performed first aid on his daughter until first responders arrived, the report said. The girl was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital, then transferred to Health Park Hospital.

“Just a lot of cops, they had the whole block streamed up back there,” said neighbor Daniel Scott. “A little kid shot accidentally or unaccidentally is unacceptable.”

The 4-year-old’s condition was not immediately known.

This is the second time in less than two months that Lee County deputies have been called to the home. In February, two men stormed into the home and opened fire. One bullet pierced the wall of the 4-year-old’s bedroom.

Neighbors say Valle may have purchased a gun after the incident.

“He probably got that for protection. I don’t know of him ever having one before,” Scott added.

As of Tuesday, Valle has not been charged in connection with the incident.

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