A bullet remains lodged in the vertebrae of a 7 year old girl, shot during a drive by shooting in Waterville

A bullet remains lodged in the vertebrae of a 7 year old girl, shot during a drive by shooting in Waterville on Friday, according to the Morning Sentinel.

Police continue to actively search for those responsible for the shooting.

Authorities say 7-year-old Emaleeah Frost was eating a snack in her bedroom on Summer Street when she was shot. Family members say they heard several pops.

Frost was flown to a hospital in Portland.

Charles Frost Jr. told the newspaper the bullet missed his daughter's spinal cord by about one inch.

Police spent the weekend searching for suspects in the case.

“This is something we cannot accept in our community. When a 7 year old get shot on your watch, that’s a really tragic thing and affects us all, deeply,” said William Bonney, Deputy Chief of the Waterville Police Department.

He told the Morning Sentinel they are actively searching all leads in the case.

That house where the child was shot is on the same block where a Waterville mother was shot and killed in October.

Residents say they are concerned about a rise in crime in the South End neighborhood.

A GoFundMe account for Emahleeah Frost has already raised close to $12,000 for her medical expenses.

Police are asking anyone who has any information about the incident to give them a call at 680-4700.