Man Allegedly Drove Car Into Family, Killing 3-Year-Old in Pink Wagon and Critically Injuring 72-Year-Old Trying to Save Them

A Michigan community is reeling after a weekend shooting killed a 3-year-old girl and injured an elderly woman who tried to save her.

Police responded to an active violence incident in Delta Township, Michigan, on Friday, Feb. 13, where they found four victims, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Sunday, Feb. 15.

Authorities attempted life-saving measures, but the 3-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement. The other victims were a 37-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman and a 72-year-old woman.

On Tuesday, the Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that 21-year-old Alexander Lamar Banks Jr. was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including premeditated murder.

Officials have not publicly released the victims’ names. The child was identified as Harlow in a GoFundMe referenced by the Lansing State Journal.

Investigators allege Banks crashed into the family while they were out walking with Harlow in a pink wagon, the Lansing State Journal reported, citing court documents. Authorities say he then got out of the vehicle, dropped a backpack and opened fire, striking the three family members.

Investigators also allege he reloaded and continued shooting, according to court records cited by the outlet.

The 72-year-old woman, identified in a GoFundMe as Barb, was critically injured after reportedly trying to intervene. In the fundraiser, her family said she “ran directly into the danger and saved two lives by distracting the gunman and taking his attention away from the family he was shooting at.” Investigators allege Banks struck her several times.

According to the fundraiser, Barb suffered severe head and facial injuries and underwent brain surgery, as cited by the Lansing State Journal.

Her intervention may have stopped the attack on the child’s mother, who told police Banks pulled her hair so hard she thought he was trying to break her neck, the Lansing State Journal reported, citing court documents.

Investigators allege Banks told officers he carried out the attack after being influenced by online threats, according to court documents cited by WILX and the Lansing State Journal. He allegedly said the threats claimed he “had to kill someone to save his family,” and that he drove around the neighborhood before targeting the family, WILX reported.

Banks faces a charge of premeditated murder, three counts of assault with intent to murder and additional firearms-related charges, according to the prosecutor’s office. He was arraigned Tuesday and referred for a competency evaluation, according to online court records.

“Alex has stood mute which means he has pled not guilty,” attorney William Amadeo, who is representing Banks, said. “At the arraignment I filed a motion for a competency to stand trial. Our defense will be that Alex is mentally incompetent.”