2-year-old girl hospitalized in critical condition after the man her mother tailed for several blocks got out of the vehicle and opened fire, striking the toddler in the head; man arrested
Louisiana – In a shocking act of violence on New Year’s Eve in Louisiana, a 2-year-old girl was left in critical condition after being shot in the head by a 27-year-old man, identified as L. Ruffin, whom her mother was tailing in connection to a stolen vehicle. The suspect is now in custody and facing serious charges after what police describe as a reckless and deliberate attack that endangered multiple lives. Ruffin has been charged with six counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of illegal use of a weapon. According to officials, he remains jailed pending a bond hearing scheduled for January 6. Law enforcement has confirmed that should the toddler succumb to her injuries, charges may be upgraded to murder.
According to the police department, the incident unfolded around 2:40 p.m. on December 31, 2025. The child’s mother was driving when she spotted a vehicle she believed had been stolen from her during a previous incident. Trusting her instincts, she began to follow the vehicle, tailing it for several blocks through a residential area. What began as a personal effort to reclaim stolen property quickly turned into a nightmare. As the woman continued her pursuit, the suspect suddenly stopped the vehicle. Police say Ruffin exited the car, turned toward the woman’s vehicle—an SUV carrying six people—and opened fire. One of those bullets struck the 2-year-old girl in the head.
“The vehicle pulled off. She followed the vehicle. As she was following the vehicle, the driver then got out and fired multiple shots back at her vehicle, striking the vehicle multiple times. And one of those bullets struck the 2-year-old,” said Police Sergeant L. McKneely in a statement to local news sources. Panicked and desperate, the mother drove directly to a police station for help. Emergency Medical Services was immediately called, and the child was rushed to a children’s hospital. As of now, she remains in grave critical condition.
Shortly after the shooting, deputies with the sheriff’s office located the suspect vehicle. Ruffin was detained during a traffic stop and taken into custody without further incident. Police later confirmed that the vehicle Ruffin was driving did indeed belong to the child’s mother. Ruffin’s criminal history includes prior arrests for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, resisting arrest, possession with intent to distribute Schedule I narcotics, and illegal carrying of weapons. Despite his record, this latest incident marks one of the most disturbing episodes in his criminal timeline—a child nearly killed amid what authorities describe as a cold act of gun violence during a moment of confrontation.
The shooting has shaken the local community, drawing condemnation from Mayor S. Edwards, who called the incident “completely unacceptable.” “As a community, we have a duty to protect all citizens, but especially our children,” Mayor Edwards said. “This child needs our prayers tonight. Wherever you are or whatever you are doing, I ask that you take a moment to pray for this child’s survival and for her family as they deal with this tragedy.” While investigators continue piecing together every detail, Ruffin remains behind bars, and a small child fights for her life—all because a mother recognized her stolen car and decided to act. What followed was a moment of violence that may forever alter several lives.
