Detective: Coroner did not identify whose gunfire killed boy, 3

A Metropolitan Police Department detective said Wednesday that the coroner did not attribute whose gunfire killed a 3-year-old boy during the Feb. 3 officer-involved fatal shooting of his father, Quinton Baker.

The detective testified during a fact-finding review about the shooting at a south Las Vegas apartment complex. Police previously said Baker killed his son.

Detective Brian Walter from Metro’s Force Investigation Team said during the hearing that police had responded to the 8400 block of South Maryland Parkway, near East Wigwam Avenue, after Baker’s girlfriend, Raneka Pate, had called 911 to report that Baker, 28, had assaulted her and a friend and was trying to take her son, Kentre. Baker also reportedly shot at a vehicle’s tire, police said.

After Metro officers arrived, Walter said they spotted Baker walking toward them while holding his son in his arms and pointing a gun at his son’s chest before two officers fired a combined five rounds. While Metro officers previously said during a Feb. 5 briefing that Baker killed his son by shooting him in the head, Kentre Baker’s official cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds — once in the left buttock that perforated his femoral artery and once in the head.

“The coroner did not specifically say, ‘This shot came from this weapon, or this shot came from his weapon,’” Walter said.

At a media briefing on Feb. 5, Assistant Sheriff Bryan Peterson said, “That child was being held hostage and the suspect’s intent was clearly stated by him to the mother several times.”

“He was going to kill that child and then kill himself,” Peterson said. “In this situation, officers have milliseconds to make a decision. Their ultimate goal is to save that baby’s life. That suspect chose those actions and followed through with what his intent was. He killed his son.”

The fact-finding review took place after the Clark County district attorney’s office found that prosecution was not warranted for the officers involved in the death of Quinton Baker.

Walter said Pate told police that an argument over Quinton Baker’s sexual orientation led him to assault her before he pulled out a gun and drove away with her son. Walter said Baker came back and told Pate that he would not go to jail and said that if police came, “I’m blowing Kentre’s brains out and blowing mine out.”

Body camera footage played during the hearing also showed Baker moving toward officers when he said, “I’m trying to find the mom. I’m going to shoot myself,” before permission was given to fire at the suspect.

Officer Damon O’Donnell fired two rounds from his 9 mm Springfield Prodigy handgun while officer Jonathan Lo fired three rounds from his .223-caliber Geissele Automatics MK-4, though the instructions to fire were intended for Lo, Walter said.

During the incident, Lt. Ammon Peacock can be heard saying, “Why are you shooting 100 shots?”

Walter added that Baker, who was armed with a Glock 43X 9 mm handgun, fired multiple rounds toward his son and the ground, evidenced by a muzzle flash. In total, Baker fired seven rounds — two before police arrived at the scene and five during the firefight.

During questioning by ombudsman Josh Tomsheck, Walter said that while Metro officers fired first, he believed Baker’s repeated pressing of his gun’s trigger indicated an intentional action.

Tomsheck also queried Walter about the officers’ use of deadly force and whether it followed department policy.

“Based on the DA not prosecuting the officers, I believe so,” Walter said.

If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting the Lifeline network at 988. Live chat is available at 988lifeline.org. Additionally, the Crisis Text Line is a free, national service available 24/7. Text HOME to 741741.

Contact Devan Patel at [email protected].