A $5,000 reward is now being offered by the ATF and Capital Region Crime Stoppers for any information relating to Thursday afternoon's shooting in Albany's South End. 

A three-year-old child was struck in the arm by a stray bullet in Albany's south end.

Friday, the Albany Police Department confirmed eight people were arrested in connection with the shooting, though no one has been charged directly with the shooting itself.

Police say all eight — as old as 21 and as young as 15 — were located in a Third Avenue home shortly after the shooting. They say they recovered three firearms, including a .45 caliber handgun reported stolen in 2018 from Virginia.

According to officials, masked men were inside a car following a group of individuals Thursday. Those masked men are believed to have exited the car, shooting at others, before getting into a foot chase. In all, it’s believed about 10 shots were fired.

The shootout ended with a bullet going through the walls of a Elizabeth Street home. The home was a daycare, and the stray bullet hit a sleeping child. Police say the three-year-old's injuries are considered non-life threatening.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. It's unclear how the eight people arrested are connected to the shooting.

All are charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property. Three 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old were arrested, as were Daron Simmons, 17 of Albany; Eric Kersey, 17 of Albany; Michael Thompson, 19 of Albany; and Kayontee Bartee, 21 of Albany.

Parents rushed to the scene Thursday to pick up their children.

“This is absolutely outrageous what happened today,” said Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins.

“This is unconscionable what happened today, in broad daylight, with children in the area, where we have individuals who are firing indiscriminately up and down the street."

Tyasia Johnson is the niece of the daycare owner. She says the “Alfie and The Chipmunks” center has been open for about two years, and moved to the south end about a year ago. 

“She loves kids. She always wanted to help and be there for the kids, she really enjoys it,” Johnson said.

The other kids at the daycare were kept on lockdown for hours, even as parents rushed to the scene.

“It’s scary. They’re clueless and they don’t know what’s going on. I know they’re probably scared,” Johnson said.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan issued a statement Thursday on the incident.

"Every time I’ve addressed the issue of gun violence in our city, I have stressed that if people continue to use guns to settle their disputes, it is only a matter of time before a child is shot. Unfortunately, that time came this afternoon when a three-year-old boy was shot in the arm after a stray bullet entered his day care provider’s home," Sheehan said.

"I visited the child and his family at the hospital, and while he is expected to recover fully, it is unacceptable for anyone in our community to suffer from this type of senseless violence. As a mayor and a mom, I am asking anyone with information about this shooting to contact the Albany Police Department."

Sheehan says for anyone reaching out to contact the department at 518-438-4000, or by submitting an anonymous tip to Capital Region Crime Stoppers at www.capitalregioncrimestoppers.com, or by downloading the free P3 Tips mobile app.