VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - A 17-year-old was arrested June 4 just after midnight after he allegedly fired shots at a vehicle with a child inside, according to the Valdosta Police Department (VPD). The child’s mother, who was driving the vehicle, is a known relative of the teen, VPD said.

The police department said no one was injured in this incident. VPD did not specify how the teenager and the child’s mother are related.

The 17-year-old was taken to the Lowndes County Jail and is charged with the following, VPD said:

• Two counts of aggravated assault (felony)
• Cruelty to children in the second degree (felony)
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony)
• Discharging of a firearm on or near a public street (misdemeanor)

VPD said their investigation determined that the mother parked her vehicle in front of the teen’s residence in the 800 block of Barack Obama Boulevard. Her 5-year-old son was with her in the vehicle. Police said the mother was waiting on someone when she saw the teen, who she is related to, pull out a gun and shoot at her vehicle. VPD said she immediately drove away from the area.

The police department said this comes after they got several E911 reports of gunshots in the area. When officers got to the scene, they said they observed the teen trying to hide behind curtains at a window inside the residence. Officials said the teen only came out of the residence after numerous verbal commands and that he resisted officers when they attempted to detain him.

The VPD asked for anyone with information about this case or others to call their Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091 or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.

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