Bullets Riddle Severn Family's Home During Toddler's Birthday Party

SEVERN, Md. (WJZ) -- Gunshots interrupt a 1-year-old's birthday party in Anne Arundel County, as adults and children scramble for cover.

Police tell Christie Ileto no one was injured inside the home, but the gunman is still on the loose.

A 1-year-old's birthday turns violent.

"The glass shattered and the bullet went straight through," the toddler's grandma said.

She doesn't want to be identified, but police say Thursday afternoon a gunman fired multiple shots in a neighborhood on Marlton Court in Severn. One of those bullets blew out her screen door during her 1-year-old grandson's birthday party.

"We believe this was a targeted incident, not a random attack," said Lt. T.J. Smith, Anne Arundel County Police.

Smith says no one was injured inside the party, and the home  -- that had six adults and four children under the age of 10 at the time -- wasn't the intended target. It's unclear who or what was, but officers say a man outside was also injured.

"Our investigation revealed that happened in this community on this street a few yards away from where the 1-year-old's birthday party was," Smith said. "We don't believe he was going to that house."

While officers search for the gunman, they're also trying to put residents on alert by leaving fliers in their neighborhoods.

"Right now, we're not getting as much cooperation as we think we should be getting from the community," said Smith. "We know somebody knows what the suspect was wearing and knows the name of the suspect. This guy is running the streets right now."

Detectives are digging for leads to find the finger behind the trigger.

"I'm just so happy that my grandson is alright. And the people sitting on the couch, if they hadn't hit the floor, it would have got them," the toddler's grandma said.

Meanwhile, the 1-year-old's family is thankful the toddler will live to see another birthday.

Witnesses tell police there was a group standing by at the time of the shooting. They scattered after shots were fired.

Police say anyone with information should contact them at 410-222-6155.

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