Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Arkansas police hunt motorist who 'killed three-year-old in road rage incident'

The three-year-old was struck at least once by a bullet

Andrew Buncombe
New York
Monday 19 December 2016 14:16 GMT
Comments
The identity of the toddler has not yet been released
The identity of the toddler has not yet been released (AP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Police in Arkansas are hunting for a man who opened fire in an an apparent road rage incident - killing a three-year-old boy who had been taken shopping by his grandmother.

Reports said that the boy’s grandmother was driving through the city of Little Rock on Saturday night when another motorist opened fire. Police said that at some point, the person started firing at her car because he thought she “wasn’t moving fast enough at a stop sign”.

The boy was struck at least once and was taken to a hospital where he died shortly afterwards. The grandmother was unhurt. None of the identities of those involved have yet been released.

Police Lt Steve McClanahan said investigators believed the boy and his grandmother “were completely innocent” and have no relationship with Saturday’s shooter, who was being sought.

He said the grandmother simply was “driving the car and was taking her grandson shopping when the incident occurred.”

Police hunt motorist who 'killed three-year-old in road rage incident'

Police said they were looking for an older black Chevrolet Impala. Police did not release a detailed description of the man who was driving it.

The Associated Press said that last month, a two-year-old girl was killed when a car drove by and someone fired into her vehicle; the shooter in that case has not been captured.

Police Chief Kenton Buckner said the road rage killings were frustrating for police departments and the community, especially because the young victims were “very innocent” and “can do very little to protect themselves.”

“We cannot have a community to where the least protected among us, being infants, who are dying in these senseless crimes in our city,” he said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in