One-Year-Old Girl Shot on Memphis Interstate: A Mother’s Harrowing Ordeal Amid City’s Growing Gun Violence

MEMPHIS, TN — A peaceful Sunday drive turned into a nightmare for a Memphis family after a one-year-old girl was struck by gunfire on Interstate 240 in what police believe may have been a random or retaliatory shooting. The horrifying incident occurred on the afternoon of June 15, 2025, and has since drawn widespread attention, sparking outrage, sorrow, and renewed calls for action to curb the rising wave of gun violence plaguing the city.

The child’s mother, speaking through raw emotion and shock, described the terrifying moment her daughter was wounded. The one-year-old was seated safely in her car seat in the back of a 2016 white Nissan Altima, traveling westbound on I-240. She was accompanied by her mother’s brother and her mother’s ex-girlfriend, who was driving. The group had been heading from Whitehaven to Cordova, a routine route taken thousands of times by Memphis families without incident—until now.

According to the mother, just before the shooting, another vehicle abruptly cut in front of the Altima. What happened next unfolded in a matter of seconds, yet left a lifetime of trauma in its wake. Gunfire erupted, striking the Altima’s rear windshield and sending shattered glass flying. One of the bullets struck the baby girl in her right elbow, grazing her fragile skin. Miraculously, she survived—an outcome her family credits to sheer luck and divine intervention. But the emotional scars and haunting fear remain.

A City’s Worst Nightmare: A Child in the Line of Fire

For a parent, there is no greater fear than the loss or injury of a child. For this Memphis mother, the pain of watching her baby be harmed by something so sudden, so violent, and so random is beyond words.

“I just kept thinking, what if the bullet had hit higher?” the mother said tearfully. “She’s just a baby. She didn’t deserve this. No child deserves this.”

The one-year-old was rushed to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital for treatment, where doctors confirmed the injury was not life-threatening. The news brought a sigh of relief for the family and supporters—but the relief was bittersweet. A tiny life had just been narrowly spared from what could have easily been a fatal encounter.

The randomness of the shooting and the vulnerability of its victim have shocked the community. To many, this was more than just another statistic or tragic footnote—it was a vivid reminder that no one, not even infants, is safe from the reach of escalating violence.

Eyewitness Accounts and Police Investigation

The Memphis Police Department responded quickly to reports of the shooting. Preliminary investigations suggest that the incident may have stemmed from a case of road rage, targeted aggression, or potentially a mistaken identity. However, no suspects have been publicly identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Officers are asking for help from the public in identifying the vehicle that cut off the Altima and initiated the gunfire. Surveillance footage from nearby traffic cameras is being reviewed, and police are hoping additional eyewitness accounts can help them track down the shooter.

“The violence we’re seeing on our highways is not just unacceptable—it’s horrifying,” said a spokesperson for MPD. “This child could have died. The entire family could have been killed. We are working around the clock to bring the perpetrator to justice.”

Detectives are urging anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation. Anonymous tips can be submitted through CrimeStoppers, and a reward is being considered for information leading to an arrest.

A Family Forever Changed

In the days since the incident, the child’s mother has not left her daughter’s side. Despite the child’s minor physical injuries, the emotional impact is profound. For the mother, every loud sound now triggers panic. Every car ride feels dangerous. Every unexpected movement on the road prompts fear.

“She doesn’t understand what happened,” the mother said. “But I do. And I can’t stop thinking about how close we came to losing her.”

Family members describe the little girl as playful, bright, and full of curiosity. Before the incident, she had just begun to form her first words, delighting her family with baby babble and giggles. Now, even the most joyful moments feel clouded by what happened.

The mother has found temporary comfort in the support she has received from friends, family, and even strangers online who have sent prayers, care packages, and messages of solidarity. But none of it can erase what occurred—or the looming fear that it could happen again.

Gun Violence on the Rise

The shooting of a one-year-old on a public interstate is part of a deeply troubling trend in Memphis and across the United States. Gun violence, particularly in the form of road rage, has risen sharply in recent years. According to national data, the number of gun-related road incidents has nearly doubled since 2018, with many of those incidents occurring in cities like Memphis where access to firearms is high and community trust in law enforcement remains strained.

In Memphis alone, more than a dozen shootings have occurred on the city’s interstates in 2025, many involving innocent bystanders. Officials say the lack of enforcement on highways, combined with deeply rooted social issues—poverty, trauma, and broken trust—has created a volatile and dangerous environment.

“We are past the point of calling this a crisis,” said one local advocate. “This is an emergency. And if we don’t act now, more children will die. More families will grieve.”

A Mother’s Plea for Peace

In the wake of the shooting, the child’s mother has chosen to speak publicly—not just to share her pain, but to demand change. Her message is clear: children should not have to grow up dodging bullets on their way to visit family. Parents should not have to weigh the risk of driving across town against the safety of their children.

“This city has to do better,” she said. “We’re losing our babies. We’re burying them or watching them get hurt in ways they’ll never forget. What happened to my daughter should never happen again.”

She has called on city leaders, law enforcement, and community organizations to invest more deeply in violence prevention, youth outreach, and mental health services. But she also urged fellow residents to speak out, to protect one another, and to treat every child like their own.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s your kid or someone else’s. We all have to care. Because if we don’t, more children will suffer. And I can’t live in a world like that.”

Community Rallies Around Victim

In the days following the shooting, local churches, community centers, and parent groups have rallied around the victim’s family. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover medical bills and counseling costs, and a candlelight vigil is planned for next week to raise awareness and honor the young survivor.

Organizers say the vigil will not just be about mourning or outrage—it will be about community healing, unity, and a commitment to creating a safer Memphis.

“We want her to know she’s not alone,” said one organizer. “We want her mother to feel the love and strength of a city that is standing beside her.”

City officials have also expressed support for the family and committed to increasing patrols on major interstates. The mayor’s office released a statement saying, “No child should ever be caught in the crossfire of senseless violence. We are heartbroken by this incident and committed to ensuring justice is served.”

Moving Forward With Strength

As the family begins the long process of healing, their story has already ignited a deeper conversation across Memphis about accountability, safety, and the price of inaction. Though the child’s physical wounds are healing, the emotional ones—especially for a mother who now views the world through the lens of what almost happened—will take far longer to mend.

For now, the family remains grateful for the gift of survival and focused on making sure the little girl feels safe, loved, and surrounded by people determined to protect her. But they are also clear: survival alone is not enough. Change must come—not just for them, but for every parent, every child, and every innocent life threatened by a bullet meant for no one and yet capable of shattering everything.

The name of the shooter remains unknown. The motive, unclear. But what is certain is this: a one-year-old was nearly killed on a Memphis highway, and the city must respond—not only with justice, but with resolve.

Until then, the car seat that once carried a laughing baby now sits as a chilling reminder of just how fragile safety can be.