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2-Year-Old Boy Shot In Baltimore Road Rage Incident; Police Offer $15K Reward For Information

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A 2-year-old boy was shot in the stomach after an early morning dispute led to a shooting in Baltimore's Seton Hill neighborhood.

In a press conference Saturday morning, Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident.

"Crimes like this simply cannot and will not be tolerated in a civilized society and in a great city like Baltimore," Harrison said.

"I know many of you share my outrage," he continued, "so I'm asking as the police commissioner, as a city resident, as a father for your help to arrest and identify the person responsible for this cowardly and violent act."

Police responded to the 600 block of W. Franklin Street for a Shot Spotter alert around 12:43 a.m. Saturday. When officers arrived they couldn't find a victim or suspect.

Later, officers were called to an area hospital for a report of a walk-in shooting victim. When officers arrived they found a 2-year-old boy was being treated for a gunshot wound to his stomach.

Investigators believe the toddler was inside a car when the shooting occurred. Before the shooting, several cars were waiting at a red light at an intersection. When the light turned green, none of the front cars moved. Another car began blowing their horn several times before moving around the stopped vehicles and making a turn.

One of the drivers stopped at the light, then followed the car that blew its horn and that driver fired a shot into the vehicle.

"What we believe is the driver of the first car at the light followed and caught up to the victim's vehicle and fired from his vehicle into the victim's vehicle, striking the child," Harrison said.

Police believe the suspect vehicle is a gray or silver Mazda MPV minivan. The suspect is described as a "heavy-set, black male with dreadlocks."

A photo of the van is below:

ATF Baltimore is offering a $15,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

"Whoever you are please turn yourself in," Harrison said. "You shot a child. Whoever you thought you were shooting at -- you didn't -- you shot a child, a 2-year-old, so turn yourself in."

The child is in stable condition and is expected to survive.

Detectives from the Central District are investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 410-396-2411 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.

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