A 12-year-old girl was shot and critically wounded Friday evening in Prince George’s County, the police said.

       The girl was hit about 6:30 p.m. while inside a business in the 5200 block of Marlboro Pike in the Capitol Heights/District Heights area, according to police. She was hit in the stomach and had surgery, Deputy Police Chief Kevin Hughes said.

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       It appeared that she was hit by a bullet that entered a business after gunfire broke out outside, said Cpl. Kyndle Johnson, a police spokeswoman. The girl did not appear to be the intended target, Johnson said.

       Police didn’t release other details Saturday, saying the girl remained in critical condition.

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       The county has been beset by homicides this year.

       Nevertheless, “children should be off-limits,” County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) said.

       At the scene, she asked for the public’s help. “We’re going to get to the bottom of it,” she said.

       No other injuries were reported.

       It was not clear who was involved in the gunfire outside the business, or why the shooting broke out there.

       Susan Svrluga contributed to this report.