Shooting that critically injured 1-year-old doesn't appear to have been random, Kent police say



KENT -- The car shooting in Kent that critically injured a 1-year-old girl "does not appear to be a random incident," the Kent Police Department said Friday night.

According to Harborview Medical Center, the baby -- Malijah Grant -- remained in critical condition Friday night.

The child was struck in the head by gunfire around 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Lake Fenwick Road and Reith Road in Kent, police said.

Kent police spokeswoman Melanie Robinson said the girl was in a car seat in the back seat of a silver Chevrolet Impala and her parents were in the front seat when a black car pulled alongside.

Robinson says both the driver and passenger in the black car opened fire at the parents' car, then drove off. Four to five shots were fired, police said.

The parents weren't injured.

The police said after the shooting Thursday that it appeared to be a road rage incident, but backed off of that Friday and said road rage seemed unlikely.

Then, Friday night police said they do not believe it was a random shooting either.

"The tragic shooting that took place yesterday is a top priority for the Kent Police Department and all of our available resources are being utilized towards this investigation," the police department said in a news release Friday night.

"This does not appear to be a random incident at this time and we continue to follow all leads that present themselves."