A 2-year-old girl was shot in the head on New Year’s Eve along Harding Boulevard after her mother followed a vehicle she believed had been stolen from a relative, and police arrested a suspect less than a day later, authorities said.
Officials said the child remained in critical condition over the weekend at a Baton Rouge hospital. The shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 31, in the Scotlandville area as the woman trailed the suspected stolen car. Someone inside that vehicle opened fire, striking the toddler who was riding in her mother’s car, police said. Detectives from the violent-crimes unit canvassed the corridor for surveillance footage and interviewed witnesses as patrol officers searched for the suspect vehicle. The attack drew swift condemnation from city leaders and set off a rapid investigative push to track the shooter and the car used in the assault.
By Thursday, officers announced the arrest of 28-year-old Landrick Ruffin during a traffic stop coordinated with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. Baton Rouge police said Ruffin faces six counts of attempted murder after gunfire hit a car containing multiple people, including the 2-year-old. Investigators have not publicly identified the child or her mother. Police did not release the caliber of the weapon or the number of rounds fired. “The child remains in critical condition,” Police Chief T.J. Morse said in a weekend update, adding that detectives were working “around the clock” to secure additional evidence.
The shooting unfolded near the intersection of Harding Boulevard and neighborhood side streets that feed traffic toward Southern University and Scotlandville’s commercial strip. Officers placed evidence markers near shell casings along the roadway and flagged several cameras on nearby businesses for video pulls. Detectives are also reviewing traffic-camera data to map the vehicles’ routes before and after the gunfire. No other injuries were reported. Police emphasized that the initial dispute centered on a previously stolen vehicle and that the toddler was an unintended victim caught in the gunfire.
Authorities said the arrest came after investigators identified a suspect vehicle and relayed a description to partner agencies. Deputies conducted the stop and took Ruffin into custody without incident. Records list counts of attempted first-degree murder tied to each occupant of the mother’s car. Officers said lab testing will compare shell casings recovered at the scene with any firearm evidence collected during the arrest. Detectives continue to interview witnesses and seek additional video from the corridor between about 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. on Dec. 31 to close gaps in the timeline.
The incident rattled families in the Scotlandville area during a busy holiday afternoon. Drivers detoured around police units and taped-off lanes while investigators worked. Business owners nearby said officers arrived quickly and moved traffic through one lane as evidence technicians photographed the roadway. Parents who stopped at the scene later described the shooting as “shocking” in daylight hours near a major thoroughfare. A hospital spokesperson said privacy laws prevent releasing updates on the child’s condition beyond the police department’s statements.
Under Louisiana procedure, prosecutors will review the arrest report and may seek an indictment in East Baton Rouge Parish. The charges can carry lengthy prison terms if a conviction is secured. A first appearance typically addresses bond and counsel, followed by preliminary proceedings and grand jury review. Police said further details — including any firearm recovery and the full path of the suspect vehicle — will be outlined in upcoming filings.
As of Monday, the girl remained hospitalized in critical condition while detectives finalized initial reports for prosecutors and continued collecting video from Harding Boulevard and adjoining streets. The next expected milestone is a first court appearance for Ruffin and a medical update from authorities as the investigation progresses.
Author note: Last updated January 5, 2026.