Doctors leaving bullet in 8-year-old Bremerton girl

Doctors have no plans to remove a bullet from an 8-year-old Bremerton girl who was wounded in a classroom shooting.

Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg-Hanson said Thursday the bullet is not currently causing a problem, and sometimes it’s riskier to remove a bullet from a sensitive area.

After damaging internal organs, the .45-caliber bullet reportedly lodged in muscle next to the girl’s spinal cord.

Amina Kocer-Bowman has had five surgeries since the Feb. 22 shooting. She was taken off a respirator Wednesday and is breathing on her own. She remains in intensive care unit at the Seattle hospital.

The spokeswoman says Amina is being weaned off sedatives. Unless there’s a setback, the next step would be for her to move out of the intensive care unit.

“I think the great news is she’s off the ventilator, she’s breathing on her own and we will start weaning her off the medications so she will become more awake and responsive,” said Gregg-Hanson.

A boy who brought the .45 caliber gun to school that ultimately went off and injured Bowman has pleaded guilty in juvenile court.

The 9-year-old boy won’t be facing time in juvenile detention, but will face probation.

He pleaded guilty to possession of a gun, bringing a dangerous weapon to school, and reckless endangerment.

The boy received 48 hours of community service, counseling and a 12 month probation as a part of deal made with prosecutors.

Bowman’s family has hired an attorney to determine fault in the shooting, which police ruled accidental. Their attorney said the term “accidental” was a misuse of words.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.