A family enjoyed an afternoon walk in Delta Township, Michigan, on Friday, February 13, 2026. Paige Smith pulled her 3-year-old daughter Harlow in a pink wagon along with her husband and other relatives. They strolled near the intersection of Green Meadows Lane and Farmstead Lane, a residential area west of Lansing in Eaton County. The peaceful outing turned horrific around 5:30 p.m. when a man drove his car intentionally into the group.
The driver, identified as 36-year-old Alexander Lamar Banks Jr. from Lansing, rammed his vehicle into the family gathering on the sidewalk. The impact struck Harlow in her wagon and injured her parents and grandfather. Banks then exited his car and began shooting at the wounded family members with a handgun, escalating the attack in the suburban neighborhood.
A 72-year-old neighbor, Barb Cook, witnessed the violence and rushed to intervene. She tried to protect the family and stop Banks, but he beat her severely in the head and face. Despite her injuries, Cook’s actions delayed Banks long enough for others to react. The assault left her with a fractured skull and brain bleed, requiring hospitalization in critical condition.
Eaton County Sheriff’s deputies and Michigan State Police responded to reports of a vehicle collision and active shooting near Green Meadows Lane and Farmstead Lane. They established a perimeter and arrested Banks without further incident. First responders found Harlow with fatal injuries from the ramming and shooting, pronouncing her dead at the scene.
The parents and grandfather were transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing with serious injuries but expected to survive. Cook underwent surgery for her facial fractures and remained in critical care with brain trauma. Banks faces charges including murder, attempted murder, assault, and firearms offenses for the targeted attack in Delta Township.
The incident on February 13 shocked the Eaton County community, with tributes pouring in for Harlow’s joyful spirit and Cook’s bravery. Authorities continue investigating motives behind the ramming and shooting near the residential intersection of Green Meadows Lane and Farmstead Lane. The family and neighbor’s resilience highlights the profound impact of this senseless violence.
