NY.- A 26-year-old man has been arrested in the state of New York (USA) and accused of killing his three-week-old daughter with a crossbow, local authorities reported.
According to the first investigations, the defendant allegedly fired the weapon at his wife in the middle of an argument, fatally hitting the baby -who was in her arms- and injuring the woman.
The arrow struck the girl’s torso and exited under her arm before hitting the woman in the chest, according to a statement from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office in upstate New York.
The man, identified as Patrick D. Proefriedt, allegedly removed the arrow and tried to stop the woman from calling emergency services, then fled before police arrived.
The agents tried to save the girl, who died at the scene, while the mother was taken to a hospital and her condition has not been released.
Proefriedt was searched by several police patrols and drones and located in a nearby forest after his vehicle became stuck in the mud.
According to authorities, the man had a history of violent incidents with his partner and a restraining order.
“This is one of the most devastating and senseless crimes committed in this community in recent memory,” Sheriff Fred Akshar said in a note.
