7-Year-Old 'Improving' After Shooting, Police Search For Driver Of White Mercedes
BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP) -- Police are searching for the driver of a suspect vehicle they believe that may have a connection with the shooting of a 7-year-old girl in Baltimore.
Police said Monday that Taylor Hayes' condition is "improving" at an area hospital after several surgeries, but that they are continuing to look for the shooter who put Taylor in the hospital.
After multiple surgeries, Taylor's mother wrote, "I'm crushed, I'm watching my baby fight for her life. Praying that she's still my normal 7-year-old."
Police released surveillance of this white Mercedes Benz near Edmondson Ave and Lyndhurst Street that they believe could have a connection with the shooting.
"At the end of the day you have a seven year old child by no choice of her own clinging to life. If this individual who is responsible has any compassion at all, he would turn himself in," said interim commissioner Gary Tuggle.
"We want to encourage the individual that was driving this car to turn the self in. We're not going anywhere. We are going to be dogmatic in our approach to this investigation. We're not going anywhere," said Tuggle.
Police arrested the 33-year-old driver of the vehicle in which the girl was in at the time of the shooting after officers reportedly found a gun and drugs inside the car.
RELATED: 7-Year-Old Shot In Baltimore Remains Hospitalized; Police Continue Search For Shooter
Darnell Holmes who was allegedly driving the car in which Taylor was shot last week has been ordered held without bail on gun and drug charges.
The Baltimore Sun reports Baltimore District Judge Flynn M. Owens issued the order Monday for 33-year-old Darnell Holmes. Holmes was driving in Baltimore last Thursday with her daughter and 7-year-old Taylor Hayes in the back seat. Shots were fired, wounding Taylor. She was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Holmes' daughter was not injured.
Holmes' attorney, Staci Pipkin, says Holmes doesn't know who shot at the car and that Taylor is the daughter of Holmes' cousin. Holmes was charged with possessing drugs and a gun after police found a loaded pistol, heroin and a digital scale in her glove box.
Police say the shooting Thursday doesn't appear to be random but they still aren't sure the intended target.
The victim was taken to Shock Trauma where police described her injuries as critical.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help her family with financial expenses.
A $4,000 reward was announced for information that will lead to an arrest.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 410-396-2100. Those who wish to remain anonymous can use the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
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