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Mom, 5-year-old shot by gunman following them in another car: Police

3:11
Mother and 5-year-old shot while in vehicle: Police
STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images
ByEmily Shapiro
September 16, 2026, 3:16 PM

A 5-year-old was shot in the chest and their mother was shot in the hand when they were followed home in their car by a gunman, authorities in Florida said.

The child was "touch and go for a little bit," but is "expected to pull through and survive," Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said at a news conference on Tuesday.

The father, mother and child were on the road when someone opened fire at them from another car around 9:45 p.m. Monday, Ocala police said. The suspect fled the scene, the chief said.

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The shooting stemmed from an altercation earlier in the night at an apartment complex parking lot, Balken said.

The original incident, around 8 p.m., was an altercation between kids, who were described as ranging in age from 10 to 16, the chief said.

That altercation drew some adults to the scene and the incident grew, Balken said. After officers responded, "peace was restored," the chief said.

The shooting victims were at the scene of that disturbance, visiting family, Balken said.

When the victims got in their car to drive home, they were watched and followed, the chief said, and someone in the car following them opened fire.

No arrests have been announced.

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