A 5-year-old boy riding in the back seat of his father's car in southern Wisconsin was killed after an SUV pulled up alongside them and someone opened fire, authorities said.
Police were searching Saturday for the person responsible for the attack, which happened Friday night in Beloit, a city 65 miles southwest of Milwaukee along the Illinois border. The Beloit Daily News reported that the boy was shot at least once in the abdomen and died at a hospital.
The boy was identified as Austin R. Ramos, Jr., according to NBC affiliate WMTV.
Investigators are looking for a maroon SUV, according to a tweet posted by the Beloit Police Department.
We need your help in finding the maroon SUV from last night's shooting. We are currently reviewing surveillance video from near the scene. — Beloit Police (@BeloitPolice1) January 23, 2016
The death remains under investigation by the City of Beloit Police and the Rock County Medical Examiner's Department.
Interim Police Chief David Zibolski said the sport utility vehicle had been following the father's car. He said he didn't know long the SUV had pursued the car or if the father was the intended target, but added that the father was cooperating with authorities.
He said investigators hadn't determined how many shots were fired. The father was not hit.
"We really ask that our community in Beloit come forward and help solve this crime," Zibolski said. "We need the support and cooperation of Beloit."
