CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 7-year-old girl got to leave the hospital Monday -- nearly a week after she was hit by a stray bullet during a shooting in her northwest Charlotte neighborhood.
Zionna Grace left the hospital with balloons tied to her wheelchair, but to many in her community she should have left wearing a cape.
“She is our hero,” said Brenda Stevenson, Pastor of New Outreach Church.
>>In the video at the top of the page, Channel 9′s Ken Lemon walks you through Zionna’s amazing recovery and a new rallying cry from the community to stop the violence.
7-year-old gets warm welcome at church after being hit by stray bullet
Zionna returned to church for the first time on Sunday after being hit by a stray bullet outside her home in northwest Charlotte.
She was welcomed with open arms when she walked inside New Outreach Christian Center.
About two weeks ago, Zionna was hit by a bullet on Marble Street. A week later, she was able to leave the hospital.
[ ALSO READ: 2 juveniles in hospital after drive-by shooting in northwest Charlotte, CMPD says ]
She told everyone in the Church how she’s feeling since the shooting.
“How you feel, Zionna?” her mother, Kierra Wilfong asked.
“I feel not 100% but 90%,” Zionna responded.
“She said she’s 90%. That’s good enough for me,” Wilfong said. “Because that means she’s not crying or in a whole lot of pain like before.”
Zionna and her mother also received a fruit basket and money from the church.
Wilfong said she’d felt nothing but support since the shooting happened, and she’s appreciative.
This browser does not support the video element.