911 Callers Pleaded for Help for Baby Shot in Georgia

This happened in Georgia, but there is a local connection to this story. The mother also lost a teenage son to violence in Gloucester County, N.J. in 2008

Neighbors of a Georgia woman whose baby was fatally shot in his stroller made frantic calls to 911, some weeping and pleading for help.

Police in the coastal city of Brunswick released recordings Saturday of three 911 calls placed right after the shooting.

One woman sobs as she says: "Somebody shot this child ... Please we need everything we can get."

No callers reported seeing the shootings Thursday. That morning, 13-month-old Antonio Santiago was killed and his mother, Sherry West, was wounded. West says a teenager shot them because she refused to give him money.

"A boy approached me and told me he wanted my money and I told him I didn't have any money," said West. "And he said give me your money or I'm going  to kill you, and I'm gonna shoot your baby, and kill your baby. And I said I don't have any money and don't kill my baby."

The two teens shot the baby in the head and shot West in the leg, according to investigators.

One caller solemnly tells an operator: "No, the baby's not breathing." He says the child was shot "right between the eyes."

A woman can be heard screaming in the background just before police arrive.

Two teens, ages 17 and 14, were arrested in the shooting on Friday.

After the teens were arrested, the Brunswick Police Chief called it a "bittersweet" moment.

"It's bitter because of the occurrences of yesterday, and we all know what that is," said Chief Toby Green. But it's sweet to know that we have two arrests of the persons who committed this horrendous act."

West, who previously lived in Gloucester County, N.J., lost another son to violence a few years ago.

Her son, Shaun Glassey, 18, was stabbed with a steak knife in West Deptford in March of 2008.

Police say Glassey was the one originally carrying the knife and he had intentions to kill another teen, when his target grabbed the knife. Prosecutors never charged anyone with his death because they said it was self defense.



 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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