The boy and his grandmother were at the stop sign in southwest Little Rock yesterday when a driver apparently angry about the delay stepped out of his car and opened fire, police said.
The boy was struck by gunfire at least once, they said.
The grandmother, who wasn't struck, drove away and called police from a shopping center.
Police Lt Steve McClanahan said investigators believe the boy and his grandmother "were completely innocent" and have no relationship with yesterday's shooter, who was being sought.
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He said the grandmother simply was "driving the car and was taking her grandson shopping when the incident occurred."
Police said they were looking for an older black Chevrolet Impala. Police did not release a detailed description of the man who was driving it.
Police Chief Kenton Buckner said the road rage killings were frustrating for the police department and the community, especially because the young victims were "very innocent" and "can do very little to protect themselves."
"We cannot have a community to where the least protected among us, being infants, who are dying (in) these senseless crimes in our city," Buckner said.
He said he didn't know if the children's shootings were related.