BRUNSWICK, Ga — A two-year-old was in critical condition at UF Health Saturday after being struck by a bullet Friday night.
Brunswick police say that bullet was fired by 23-year-old Aaron Holland.
The remnants of police tape where law enforcement had blocked off the entire 2500 Block Ellis Street were still visible Saturday afternoon.
The shooting occurred in apartments midway down the block, and with the suspect still at large police are warning the community if they see him not to approach and to consider him armed and dangerous.
Police said several adults were in one of the apartments along with four children under the age of ten Friday night.
That’s when Aaron Holland allegedly went into the restroom and began firing.
“My grandchildren did, they came in the house and said mama we heard gunshots,” said Malissa Miles Nelson, who lives down the street.
Nelson told us tragically, that she knows all too well the permeation of violence in the community.
“My husband of 16 years was killed on the way home from work,” said Nelson.
She said her husband’s killer was never found, but Aaron Holland, the suspect in last night’s shooting is well known to police.
Holland has outstanding warrants through the Glynn County Police Department and Sheriff’s Office along with pending warrants through the Brunswick Police Department.
Nelson said she doesn’t believe he’s a bad person, but a victim of circumstance in a community ravaged by poverty.
“There’s no city buses to take our kids to the park, have fun, to vent. There are no movie theaters, there are no libraries. You know, people get frustrated, you know, and sad,” said Nelson.
Still, police are considering Holland armed and dangerous.
A total of five agencies have pledged to work as a unified force to track him down.
Nelson said often innocent children are the ones who pay the price of the poverty-bred violence plaguing these streets.
She’s just hoping the toddler caught in the crossfire Friday night pulls through.
“They loved that baby and it’s devastating to the whole community. I love that baby. That’s somebody’s child and I want somebody to love my child if something like that happened,” said Nelson.
If you have any additional information about this incident or the whereabouts of Aaron Holland police are encouraging the public at 912-279-2641.
You can also leave an anonymous tip by calling silent witness at 912-267-5516.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
