Doctors say an 8-year-old girl who was shot in the abdomen in an accidental shooting at a Bremerton elementary school on Wednesday is lucky to be alive.

Amina Bowman remains in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she underwent hours of surgery to repair massive internal organ damage that caused significant blood loss.

"She has extensive injuries in the abdomen that are going to require a number of surgeries to reconstruct," said Dr. Eileen Bulger, the surgeon who treated Amina in the emergency room.

The third grader remains in intensive care under sedation and is breathing with the help of a ventilator.

"She's been alert at times and knows and responds to me, her mother and grandmother when we're in the room. She's kind of coherent and aware of what's going on," Amina's father, John Bowman, told reporters at Harborview on Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the 9-year-old boy who police say carried a backpack with a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic Heckler and Koch pistol inside is being held at the Kitsap County Juvenile Detention Center on $50,000 bail.

Charging documents say investigators believe the boy likely got the gun during a visit with his mother last weekend.

"I just want everyone to know that my kid made a mistake. It was a terrible mistake," the boy's father, Jason Cochran, said outside the courthouse.

If the bail is met, the boy would be released to his uncle, who is his legal guardian and who also sat by his side in the courthouse.

"He's a good kid. It's all I can say," said his uncle, Patrick Cochran. "I apologize to the family of that girl. I really do."

The boy apparently slammed the bag down on a desk and then the gun fired. The bullet hit Amina Bowman in the arm, breaking several bones before penetrating her abdomen. Armin Jahr Elementary went into immediate lockdown for about a half an hour until the scene was secured.

The boy appeared frightened and was tearful as he appeared in juvenile court. He's charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, bringing a dangerous weapon onto school grounds, and third degree assault.

One student told investigators he was "going to bring his dad's gun to school and run away," according to the certification of probably cause.

Doctors at Harborview say Amina will require several more operations and spend weeks in the hospital. They are planning another surgery on Friday to re-evaluate the injuries and begin to reconstruct the damaged organs.

The bullet was lodged in the musculature near the spine, so doctors say they won't need to remove it. There is no apparent spinal damage but more tests are planned.

"It's difficult. Anybody who has kids knows that you'd do anything to take away the pain she's feeling right now and take it onto yourself and that's how I feel and my wife feels the same way," Bowman said.

A trust fund to help offset the costs of medical care has been established. Donations to the Amina Kocer Bowman trust can be made at any Bank of America branch.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MyNorthwest.com, Staff report

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