By Karen Hutchinson-Talaski

Staff writer

HERMISTON A 12-year-old Hermiston girl was killed on Christmas Eve apparently by her 10-year-old brother.

At about 3:30 p.m., according to Umatilla County Undersheriff Terry Rowan, a call came in to Umatilla County Dispatch indicating Lacey Ostrom had been accidentally shot at her home on Sagebrush Lane in Hermiston by her brother. She was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston before being flown to Doernbecher’s Hospital in Portland, where she died shortly after 11 p.m.

Rowan says detectives from Oregon State Police, Umatilla, Hermiston and Pendleton police departments, and Umatilla County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident.

“There are lots of rumors going around,” Rowan said this week. “We are still conducting interviews to determine what happened.”

Dean Gushwa, newly-appointed district attorney, says an autopsy was performed Tuesday showing Lacey was shot in the abdomen. Only one shot was fired. There were two other children in the home at the time of the shooting besides Lacey’s father Michael Ostrom.

There is no indication Lacey’s mother was at home at the time of the incident.

Ostrom has two felony burglary convictions one in 1991 and one 1986. As a convicted felon, he cannot own a gun. Two shotguns were found in the home.

At this time, the investigation is continuing. Gushwa is terming the investigation as a death investigation.

“This will take some time,” Gushwa said. “The crime scene was thoroughly investigated. We want to have the most complete picture of what happened.”

Lacey attended Sandstone Middle School. School officials say a crisis team will be on hand when students return to school next week.