Armed Suspect Holds Toddler at Gunpoint, Vegas Cop Ends Him with a Headshot, Child Dies [WATCH]

A 3-year-old boy was killed during a police shooting early Tuesday morning in Las Vegas after his father allegedly threatened to kill both himself and the child, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

LVMPD dispatch received the first 911 call at 1:19 a.m. Tuesday from a woman at an apartment complex in the 8400 block of South Maryland Parkway near Wigwam Avenue.

The caller reported that a man, later identified as Quinton Baker, 28, had battered her friend and was attempting to take her child from the apartment. The call disconnected.

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Approximately three minutes later, police received a second 911 call from the same woman.

“He’s threatening to kill me and my son,” she said.

“He’s going to hurt my baby.”

Dispatchers told the woman officers were en route, and the call disconnected again.

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Assistant Sheriff Bryan Peterson later explained that while officers were responding, they learned Baker had fired two rounds at a vehicle leaving the apartment complex and had gone back inside an apartment with the child.

Body-worn camera footage shows officers arriving on scene and making contact with the woman.

She told officers Baker had pointed a gun at her and that she believed she was going to die.

“She also stated, Baker told her, ‘If you don’t tell them to call this off, and if they try to come up these stairs… you won’t have either one of us,’” Peterson said.

Peterson said officers began gathering additional resources as the situation escalated.

Body-worn footage shows Baker walking down the apartment stairs carrying the 3-year-old child in his left arm.

Officers could be heard issuing verbal commands, but Baker did not comply. Video and officer dialogue indicate Baker was armed with a gun pointed at the child’s chest.

According to Peterson, Baker stopped on the stairs and requested to see the child’s mother.

“He was going to kill himself,” Peterson said.

“Because of the immediate threat to the child, officers discharged their firearm.

Simultaneously, Baker discharged his firearm five times.”

Officers Jonathan Lo and Damon O’Donnell were identified as the officers who fired their weapons.

Peterson said Lo fired three rounds and was armed with a rifle, while O’Donnell fired two rounds and was armed with a 9mm handgun.

Officers then approached Baker and the child and determined that both had been struck by gunfire.

Peterson said one officer picked up the 3-year-old and ran approximately the length of three football fields to reach medical personnel who had been staged at the front of the apartment complex.

“You’re alright, buddy,” the officer could be heard saying in body-worn camera footage.

“It’s okay.”

Police said the child was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

Baker was pronounced dead at the scene. FOX5 later confirmed through the child’s mother that the boy’s name was Kentre Baker.

“As you all have just seen, very emotional at that point in time,” Peterson said during a news conference while recounting the events.

Peterson also said one of the rounds fired by Baker ricocheted and struck an officer in the foot.

That officer suffered a bruise and a cut.

According to Peterson, Baker sustained four gunshot wounds, while the child sustained three.

Investigators determined that two of the gunshot wounds to the child were fired by Baker. Police said they are still investigating the origin of one gunshot wound to the child’s leg.

During a Thursday afternoon media briefing, Peterson described Baker’s actions as “pure evil.”

“Policing is difficult. Officers have to make these kinds of choices in milliseconds,” he said.

“This is extremely difficult. Not only for our officers, but for our crime scene analysts who have to watch these videos over and over.”

Peterson was also asked about Baker’s request to see the child’s mother.

“He said, ‘I’m going to kill myself, I want to see the mother,’” Peterson said.

“With all of his intentions, he’s trying to fulfill what he already said, and he wanted the mother to witness it. What officers can’t allow is putting more people in jeopardy. Putting more people in harm’s way.”

“The family just lost their child. That’s very difficult, very emotional. That’s understandable,” Peterson said.

“The officers made a choice to save that child’s life, but the father made a choice otherwise and shot and killed his own child. Pure evil.”

Peterson said the department’s Wellness Bureau responded to support the officers involved.

Police said Lo, 39, has been with the department since 2019, and O’Donnell, 26, since 2024. Both officers are assigned to the Community Safety Division, Enterprise Area Command, and have been placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Peterson said if Baker had survived his injuries, he would have faced charges including murder, kidnapping, two counts of assault, domestic violence assault, battery, battery on a protected person, and child abuse.

Police said there were no prior calls for service to the apartment and no prior history involving Baker, noting the family had moved into the apartment last month.

The child’s mother, who spoke with FOX5, disputes the police account of the events.

This incident marks the third officer-involved shooting within LVMPD’s jurisdiction in 2026.

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