Dad Cradled 3-Year-Old In His Arms Before Shooting Him In Head After Fight With Mom

In one of the most tragic cases in Las Vegas, a fight between parents resulted in the untimely death of their three-year-old son.

According to 911 call recordings obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Quinton Baker shot his son in the head after telling his mother “I’m blowing the child’s brains out.” He later tried to murder her as well.

“He’s not in his right mind,” said Raneka Pate, mother of Kentre Baker. “He’s trying to take my son,” the woman told police at 1:19 a.m. on February 3.

The incident took place at an apartment complex located in the 8400 block of South Maryland Parkway.

Clark County Assistant Sheriff Bryan Peterson said that Pate told police that Baker said, "If you don't tell them to call this s— off, and if they try to come up these stairs I'm blowing the child's brains out and I'm blowing mine out. You won't have neither one of us."

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), Pate called 911 reporting that she and a friend had been assaulted by Baker, who had also threatened to kill her and their son. She told dispatchers that Baker was attempting to kidnap the child from the apartment.

Several officers, including Jonathan Lo and Damon O’Donnell, were immediately dispatched. While officers were en route, Pate provided additional information, stating that Baker had fired a gun toward a vehicle in the apartment complex parking lot, police said in a release.

When officers arrived, Pate warned that Baker would kill the baby if he saw law enforcement. As officers assessed the situation and coordinated resources, Baker exited the apartment carrying the infant.

Police said officers issued repeated verbal commands, but Baker refused to comply and continued moving toward them. Officers observed that Baker was holding a firearm in his right hand, pointed at the baby’s chest.

As Baker fired the weapon, officers returned fire, fatally shooting him. An officer immediately secured the child and ran to medical personnel stationed outside the complex. The infant was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors attempted life-saving measures but later pronounced the child dead.

Officers also rendered aid to Baker, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Preliminary findings indicate the child sustained a close-contact gunshot wound when Baker discharged the firearm.

According to a report on Law&Crime, Pate has blamed the shooting on police. “I told police officers that the person was very agitated, and that if they could do anything to calm or deescalate the situation, without any lethal force because he did have my son in his possession,” Pate told KSNV.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending a review of what happened.