A seven-month-old baby boy died after being shot in the the head and his father was also killed in an apparent ambush on their car near one of New Orleans’ main Mississippi River crossing bridges late Wednesday, police said.

The tot died after being rushed to hospital, investigators told New Orleans television station WDSU. His 25-year-old father was shot multiple times and died at the scene, they added.

The driver and a passenger in the front seat of the car were unharmed according to the Times Picayune newspaper, who reported that detectives believe the shooting was not a random act and the man who was killed knew his shooter.

“It was heartbreaking to clearly see what was a bullet hole in the side of baby's car seat. No family should have to endure the murder of a 7-month-old baby" New Orelans Police Department Superintendent Ronal Serpas said in a statement.

“We need people who know something about this to call us. It's the decent thing to do. It's the right thing to do.”