Officers say it happened in the 1100 block of South Hoover Road at the Hoover Road Apartments just before 10 p.m. on Saturday.
"A car pulled up at the end of the gate and they just started shooting," said the victim's mother, who didn't want her identity revealed. "I was devastated, I almost fainted to come into the house and to see all the blood on the ground."
She was near her daughter when the shots were fired, and so were family, friends and other small children.
"We both was right here. She was right in front of me when this happened. There was a whole bunch of kids out here, a whole bunch of adults," she said. "This could have been anybody's child. She is just 7-years-old, an innocent bystander, and it could have been fatal."
"I just want everyone in my neighborhood who watches this to take heed to what I'm saying, because it could have been theirs too," she added.
Meanwhile, the family is hoping to move away from the violence and away from the street where their little girl is now afraid to play.
"I went to my housing manager this morning. Hopefully, [I] can get away from here," she said. "My daughter is devastated. She doesn't want to be around here no more."
Durham Police still haven't caught the person or people responsible for the shooting. Witnesses say the car involved in the shooting was a small green 4-door compact.
Investigators are now looking for the shooter. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator A. Cristaldi at (919) 560-4281x29123, or Crime Stoppers at (919) 683-1200.
