Witnesses In Shooting Of Taylor Hayes Asked To Come Forward

BALTIMORE, MD — Police have canceled the lookout for a white Mercedes in connection with the death of 7-year-old Taylor Hayes. Authorities had asked for help finding a white Mercedes that may have been at the scene of the shooting on Thursday, July 5.

Now, the vehicle has been located, but more information is needed.

Hayes died on Thursday, July 19, two weeks after a bullet hit her as she sat in the back of her mother's friend's car on Lyndhurst Street near Edmondson Village.

Police said that multiple shots were fired in the 500 block of Lyndhurst Street around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 5.

"We have received tips, but we need more," Baltimore Police Chief of Media Relations T.J. Smith said. "We are still trying to identify the murderer of Taylor."

There were numerous bystanders on the street at the time of the shooting, Smith said.

"We know that people saw it," Smith said of the shooting. "We need those people to come forward..."

He asked people to put themselves in the place of the family.

"There are people who are fearful to come forward," Smith said. "It should be a traumatic event for everyone who witnessed this, to understand that it's a 7-year-old whose life was taken," he added.

"Her mother is right now planning her funeral when a lot of other parents are at the beach or at the amusement parks or enjoying the summer with their children," Smith said. "She's planning a funeral."

Based on the shell casings recovered, Interim Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle said in a press briefing after the shooting that at least two different guns were involved in the gunfight.

"...we know that a number of people saw that shooting," Tuggle said on Friday, July 20. "We know that for a fact, and we want you to come forward. There's a child who's no longer with us. Have some level of sympathy..."

He added: "I get the issue of fear," but noted: "We're talking about the life of a 7-year-old child whose life has been snuffed out."

Police did not go into detail regarding information that authorities already have in the case, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation.

"The person that shot her needs to be arrested and prosecuted," Tuggle added. "We're not going to leave any stone unturned until that happens."

Anyone who comes forward with information will be protected, police said.

"...we're going to use every single resource at our disposal to protect you," Tuggle said.

Federal, state and local agencies would be brought to the table, according to Tuggle.

Have a tip? Here is how to submit the information:

• Call Baltimore Police detectives directly at 410-396-2100.
• Text tips to the Baltimore Police Department at 443-902-4824.
• Call the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-7LOCKUP; callers are anonymous.
• Download the Baltimore Police app to submit a tip online.

This is breaking news and will be updated.

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Picture of Taylor Hayes, 7, courtesy of Patch partner GoFundMe.