LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — A late-night domestic dispute in a Las Vegas apartment complex ended in tragedy when a father allegedly shot his 3-year-old son in the head during a standoff with police, authorities said.
Police identified the child as Kentre Baker and the father as Quinton Baker. According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, the incident unfolded around 1:18 a.m. on Feb. 3 in the 8400 block of South Maryland Parkway.
911 Calls Capture Escalating Chaos
Audio recordings from multiple 911 calls reveal the fear and confusion surrounding the confrontation.
Raneka Pate, the child’s mother, called police saying Baker was “not in his right mind” and was trying to take their son. She told dispatchers that an argument between the two had escalated throughout the night.
Pate alleged that Baker assaulted a friend of hers and then attempted to kill her following the dispute inside their apartment.
Witnesses in the area also reported hearing the couple screaming and arguing. One caller told dispatchers that a man came outside holding a child and a gun before firing at a white BMW.
Gunfire and Hostage Situation
According to police, Baker attempted to place Kentre inside a blue Ford vehicle. When Pate tried to remove her son from the car, Baker allegedly fired shots toward her and her friend’s vehicle.
Police say Baker later returned to the apartment with the child and resumed fighting with Pate before walking outside to confront officers while holding the boy.
Clark County Assistant Sheriff Bryan Peterson said body camera footage shows Baker cradling Kentre in his arms while pointing a gun at him.
During the standoff, authorities say Baker threatened to kill both the child and himself. According to investigators, he told Pate, “If you don’t tell them to call this off … I’m blowing the child’s brains out and I’m blowing mine out.”
Fatal Shots Fired
Police say the child was struck in the head by a close-contact gunshot wound when Baker discharged his weapon.
Officers on scene then opened fire, killing Baker. While Kentre was also struck once in the leg by police gunfire, officials said the Clark County coroner determined the fatal wound was caused by a shot fired by Baker.
Peterson described the situation as one requiring split-second decisions by officers attempting to save the child’s life.
“That child was being held hostage,” Peterson said during a press conference. “The suspect’s intent was clearly stated by him to the mother several times.”
Investigation and Review
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave as a standard procedure pending a full investigation.
Pate has publicly criticized the police response and retained an attorney. She told local media that she had urged officers to attempt de-escalation because Baker was agitated and holding their son.
The police review is expected to take several months.
The tragedy has left the Las Vegas community shaken as officials continue to examine the circumstances leading up to the deadly confrontation.
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