Girl Who Was Accidentally Shot in School Recovers

INSIDE EDITION talks to the family of the third grader who was accidentally shot by a classmate, and is just now taking her first steps in recovery.

It's a miracle. Every step Amina Bowman takes brings her closer to the happy-go-lucky child she once was, before she was accidentally shot in school—by a nine-year-old classmate!

It's been a long, hard road for Amina Bowman, and nobody knows that better than her mom, Teri.

"It's been a roller-coaster—highs and lows, mixed emotions," said Teri. "I just want the little girl that I had."

Amina's world was turned upside-down when her third-grade classmate brought a .45 caliber gun to class in his backpack. When he slammed it down on his desk, the gun went off.

The bullet tore through Amina's liver and a major vein. Her parents are still trying to make sense of the tragedy.

"A little boy brought a .45 to school in a backpack. Who do you hold responsible?" asked INSIDE EDITION's Jim Moret.

"His parents should be held accountable for it," said Teri.

The boy's mom and her boyfriend were charged with leaving the gun around the house, and have pleaded not guilty.

Now, more than a month after the tragedy, it truly is a miracle that Amina is walking. X-rays show that the bullet—still lodged in her body—is very close to her spine.

"Does Amina know why she's in the hospital?" asked Moret.

"She said she was shot," said Teri.

Amina, who just turned nine, will be fed by a tube for months to come. She's eager to have her favorite foods again.

"Most likely chicken noodle soup, and she also wants spaghetti," said Teri.

But she's getting better, one step at a time.

"The fact that she's still here is a testament that she doesn't want to quit," said Teri.

A trust fund has been set for Amina Bowman. You can donate at any Bank of America branch by asking for the Amina Bowman Fund.