Girl shot in head remains unconscious

A girl suffering from a gunshot wound to the head remains in intensive care and continues to use a ventilator to breathe, according to this week’s hot line recordings that update her condition.

Katherine Cook, 5, is at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where she was taken after the Feb. 23 shooting outside her Linwood-area home. Her intercranial pressure remained “mostly good” on Tuesday, according to Wednesday’s recording. She remains unconscious.

Earlier recorded statements said that a physical therapist was able to get Katherine to move her left big toe and squeeze her right hand on command. Therapeutic boots have been placed on the girl’s feet. They will help when it comes time for her to regain her ability to walk.

Meanwhile, the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the shooting. Investigators are awaiting the results of tests that might determine which direction the bullet came from and how far away the shooter was, Sheriff Dave Zoellner said.

Katherine was playing in her backyard on the afternoon of the shooting. There were no signs of the gunman. Zoellner declined to speculate whether the shooting was accidental or criminal.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call detectives at (913) 758-4082.