The young girl, who has not been identified by authorities, was shot early on Sunday morning near a McDonalds in a suburb south of Stockholm, later dying in hospital from her injuries. The victim is not believed to have been the intended target in the shooting, but was hit by a “stray bullet” fired at two men said to be tied to a criminal gang, according to local press reports.

Justice Minister Morgan Johansson has dubbed the incident a “heinous atrocity,” saying he was “dismayed and shocked” to hear of the shooting while vowing to mobilize “more police” to prevent similar tragedies in the future and impose “harsher sentences” on criminals.

While the murder has been reported as a gang-involved homicide, local authorities cautioned that they had not yet determined the exact circumstances of the shooting, calling on the public to come forward with any information or evidence they might have. “I cannot confirm any such reports, but want to underline that we are in great need of witnesses and observations,” local police chief Carolina Paasikivi told the TT newswire.