Owings Mills community rattled after 2-year-old and his mother injured in shooting

BALTIMORE — Owings Mills residents were frustrated to learn that a 2-year-old and his mother were shot before the father took his own life on Thursday.

Baltimore County Police said a man shot his toddler and his child's mother after they exchanged custody near Deer Park and Wards Chapel roads.

"It's very frustrating," Owings Mills resident Erica Day said.

When the woman drove off with the child, investigators said the father forcefully stopped the car. He then shot into the vehicle, striking the woman and the child.

Detectives said both were stable at the hospital. Authorities later found the man dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home.

"We really don't know what happened," Owings Mills resident Anthony Williams said. "We don't know what happened between them. We don't know what was in his mind but for somebody to do that is really irrational and crazy, especially to try to take your own child's life."

Williams said it hurts to know a young child was involved.

"Things like that infuriate me because I have children and we know how innocent they are," Williams said.

Baltimore County police said the case remains an open and active investigation.