BAKER COUNTY, Fla. — A 6-year-old child is recovering after deputies said someone opened fire on a car along Interstate 10 in Baker County.
Baker County Sheriff Scotty Rhoden said three people, including two children, were inside the car when the shooting happened around 10:50 p.m.
Deputies said the children’s mother had just dropped someone off at an apartment in Macclenny when she noticed a car following her onto the interstate.
“The vehicle then pulled up beside her and then began shooting at the vehicle,” Rhoden said.
Deputies said the shooting happened near Exit 228. The woman’s 6-year-old was shot in the arm, and her 11-year-old was injured by flying glass.
Rhoden said the 6-year-old had surgery and was in stable condition.
Investigators are working to identify the shooter.
Rhoden said the investigation has been made more challenging after the Florida Department of Transportation revoked the use of automatic license plate readers on state roads in September.
The sheriff’s office said deputies previously used a license plate reader near the interstate entrance, but stopped using it after FDOT issued its rules. Rhoden said that tool could have helped investigators identify the suspect’s vehicle within minutes.
“Not having this equipment or this tool for law enforcement is really deterring us on being able to get leads to be proactive to really solve this case a lot faster,” Rhoden said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Baker County Sheriff’s Office.
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