A months-old baby boy was killed when police attempted to arrest his father, the suspected murderer of his mother and uncle, after police in Mississippi approached his car that was stuck in a median, NBC News reports.
Eric Derell Smith, 30, had been sought in the double murder of his wife and her brother in Louisiana. Police in Mississippi learned Smith had crossed into their state and responded to the report of the car on I-10. Somehow, the car became stuck in the median–it is unclear if this was a result of a chase or if Smith had tried to turn around across the median–and police approached the car. As they came near the car, Smith jumped out and was shot by police.
Police have not said specifically if the child was shot or injured in another way, commenting that the child “did receive injuries” according to Biloxi Police Major Christopher De Back. It is also unclear if Smith was armed when he was shot.
“As the suspect exited the vehicle, shots were fired. Medical attention was given to the suspect but he died as a result of injuries sustained,” De Back stated. “The juvenile did receive injuries and was taken to a local medical facility for treatment.”