Cincinnati police Monday charged an Over-the-Rhine man with negligent assault, a misdemeanor, in connection with the shooting of a 15-month-old North Fairmount girl.

        A police report says Charles Bell, 18, of the 1900 block of Elm Street failed to secure a handgun, dropped it on the floor and it went off, a round striking the girl in the thigh.

        The shooting happened Sunday shortly before noon in an apartment in the 1900 block of Westwood Northern Boulevard.

        Police said Mr. Bell then left.

        The report said Mr. Bell admitted to the offense in a taped statement.

        The girl, Nautica Brumfield, remained in serious condition Monday evening at Children's Hospital Medical Center.

        “There was negligence on his part,” police Lt. Ray Ruberg said.

        But Jackie Roley, Mr. Bell's grandmother, said the arrest came as a surprise.

        Mr. Bell is not one to carry a gun, she said.

        “He's not the type of person to go and hurt somebody,” she said.

        “It had to be an accident. That's just not Charles.”

        The grandmother does not know the baby's mother, but said Mr. Bell has no children.

        “I'm sorry it happened to the little baby, and I'm sorry for her child. It was a shock to me,” she said.

Motorists will be seeing orange again
ACLU proceeds with racial-profiling lawsuit
Police review panel feels stymied by city
Three downtown garages will cost $31.8M
Car break-ins city-wide problem
CG&E wants bigger pipeline
More answers to your energy questions
Neighbors battle UC mansion proposal
Reagan's influence felt in Tristate
Clintons may return Cincinnatian's gift
Man charged in baby's shooting
Special-ed programs need work, CPS told
Detective tells court of bloody evidence
Teacher won't face charges, police say
Three indicted in ecstasy case
Two tax increases on ballots today
Deerfield fire levy vote tonight
Land sale means big profit
Local Digest
Plant mobilizes Sayler Park
Ky. school officials resist Bush testing plan
Special counsel to get Villa Hills records
A bump in the road for Monmouth Street project
Boone Co. Schools, teachers near deal
Kentucky Digest
Lotto winners were overpaid, auditor says
Critics attack plan for tunnel murals