A one-year-old baby was left fighting for life after being struck by bullets when police officers shot at a suspect who attempted to carjack a vehicle at a gas station in Houston.
According to Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner, cops were chasing a Mercedes Benz when the driver crashed the car into a Chevron gas station off Beechnut.
The suspect then jumped out of the destroyed car and tried to take the mother’s car while she was still pumping gas at the station.
Her one-year-old child was in the back seat at the time of the incident.
An officer who had been unaware that a child was in the backseat then fired several bullets into the car, striking the suspect and the baby.
During a press conference, Finner said that the baby was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Officers tried to administer first aid to the fleeing suspect but he died from his injuries.
The cop involved in the shooting was placed on administrative duty.
Finner said that the veteran officer is distraught and “deeply concerned about this baby.”
“Our entire city prays for that one year old and that mother,” Finner added.
One person commented: “Blame the suspect for carjacking a car. Police were unaware a criminal would have a child.”
Another wrote: “The criminal had a gun and had just endangered lives in a police chase. They had no idea there was a baby in the car, give them a break. It’s very sad the baby was injured, but definitely unintentional. If they let this man get away with the baby it probably would have ended worse for the poor thing.
A third added: “Hope the poor lil baby will be OK.”
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Replaced!