A Linwood-area girl went into surgery Friday afternoon, as the investigation into who shot her continues.

Leavenworth County Sheriff Dave Zoellner said Friday that detectives hope to determine what direction a bullet came from that struck 5-year-old Katherine Cook in the head. Officials have said they believe the shooting could be accidental and are seeking the public’s help in unraveling the mystery.

Meanwhile, Katherine went into surgery at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., to remove bone fragments in her skull, according to a hot line that has been set up in Parsons for the girl, whose family is from nearby Oswego. Thursday night, her cranial pressure was erratic, according to the hot line. The bullet remains lodged in her head.

Katherine was shot last Saturday afternoon as she played outside her home, which is about three miles east of Linwood in southern Leavenworth County.

Zoellner said detectives are studying aerial photos in hopes of narrowing down where the shot originated. Depending on the type of gun used, a bullet could travel a great distance.

“It could have gone from a mile to two miles as long as it didn’t hit anything,” the sheriff said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office detective division at (913) 758-4082.