Officers Went to a Long Island Home to Question a Murder Suspect. The Visit Ended With a 3-Year-Old Girl Shot and the Suspect Dead.

Cops in Long Island went to question a murder suspect, who then allegedly started shooting at the officers, wounding an innocent 3-year-old girl before fatally shooting himself, authorities said.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 22, detectives were at a residence in Ridge to investigate a murder that occurred in June.

Detectives were speaking with a friend of the suspect, 38-year-old Gary Jones, and the friend told police that Jones was inside the home, police said.

Authorities told the friend and the children who were inside the house to exit.

Officials said Jones then came out of a room – holding a handgun – and started shooting at the detectives.

The detectives were able to get out of the house without being hit, but one of the “numerous” rounds went through a wall, hitting a 3-year-old neighbor girl named Lovely Toney, WABC reported.

Lovely’s father, James Toney, told WABC that she was standing on the couch when the stray bullet hit her. He didn’t realize she was shot until he saw blood.

Toney said he didn’t know what to do, so he grabbed Lovely and rushed her out of the house. That is when he saw cops outside and realized something was going on next door, according to WABC.

Lovely was transported to a local hospita,l where she underwent surgery and is currently listed in stable condition, police said.

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Authorities surrounded the home and hostage negotiators and the Emergency Services Unit were called in, officials said.

A robot eventually sent into the home located Jones dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.

Officials said police did not open fire at any point during the incidentt.