A man from Louisiana has been arrested for allegedly shooting a toddler in the head during an incident where the child’s mother pursued him for allegedly driving her stolen vehicle, as reported by local authorities.

Landrick Ruffin, 27, faces charges of six counts of first-degree attempted murder along with one count of illegal weapon use, as per records from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The incident took place on New Year’s Eve in Baton Rouge, according to details provided by the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Around 3 p.m. that day, the child’s mother was heading to a McDonald’s on Harding Boulevard when she spotted what she believed to be her stolen car being driven by someone else. Acting on this suspicion, she decided to follow the car, as noted in a press release from the police department.

The pursuit continued for several blocks, with the two vehicles nearly completing a loop around 79th Avenue and Pembroke Street.

But eventually the calculus changed and shots rang out, police said. Ruffin allegedly opened fire on the woman’s vehicle. In the hail of bullets, the woman’s 2-year-old daughter was struck in the head.

A spokesperson for the police department elaborated on the order of events in comments to Baton Rouge-based CBS affiliate WAFB.

“The vehicle pulled off,” Sergeant. L’Jean McKneely said. “She followed the vehicle. As she was following the vehicle, the driver then got out, fired multiple shots back at her vehicle, striking the vehicle multiple times. And one of those bullets struck the 2-year-old.”

The mother herself then drove to a nearby police station, and her child was rushed to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

“EMS was called,” McKneely added. “The baby was transported to the hospital – now in grave critical condition.”

The little girl remains in critical condition as of this writing.

As it turned out, the woman was correct about the vehicle being stolen, law enforcement told the TV station. The defendant was reportedly driving the woman’s car on the day in question.

The vehicle Ruffin allegedly fired at and struck was a Chevrolet SUV – police said there were six people inside at the time.

Law enforcement says some charges against Ruffin would be upgraded to murder in the event the child succumbs to her injuries.

The defendant is currently detained in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He is slated to attend a bond hearing on Jan. 6.

Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards said the incident was “completely unacceptable” in a statement provided to local ABC affiliate WBRZ.

“As a community, we have a duty to protect all citizens, but especially our children,” the mayor went on. “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.”