Earlier this year former college football star Quinton Baker, 28, came out as gay to his girlfriend’s friend moments before getting into a shootout with Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD) officers and using his 3-year-old son as a hostage. His story is now resurfacing as the Clark County coroner admits they can’t determine if officers or Quinton killed the child during the shooting.
On February 3, Quinton and his son, Kentre Baker, were fatally shot as the father walked towards police, holding his son as hostage. In body-camera footage, the father held the child in his left arm. In his right hand, he held a gun, pointed at the child’s chest.
According to Kentre’s mother, Raneka Pate, things began after she and Quinton got into an argument. She told police Quinton told her friend “that he was gay.” During the argument things escalated. Raneka said Quinton beat her up and threatened to kill himself and their son. A day after the shooting, she told 8 News Now:
“Not only was my life threatened but my son’s life was threatened.”
Las Vegas Police And Coroner Can’t Determine If Quinton Baker Fatally Shot 3-Year-Old Son Or If Officers Did
According to LVMPD, officers fired several rounds at Quinton during the shootout. At the time of the shooting, LVMPD previously stated Quinton killed his son, who died from two gunshot wounds.
But now, LVMPD and the Clark County coroner are having difficulty confirming if Quinton or officers fatally shot the child during the standoff. The report was shared during a fact-finding review on Wednesday (October 28) at the Clark County Commission chambers. During the review, it was also learned that the Clark County District Attorney’s office declined to prosecute the two officers who fired their weapons.
While testifying on behalf of LVMPD, Detective Brian Walter said Quinton fired his gun four times as he fell to the ground upon officers shooting him. Walter said the officer who fired his weapon first was not instructed to shoot.
On body-camera footage, a lieutenant instructed another officer, who was armed with a long gun, to shoot Quinton. Both officers fired a total of five rounds. In body-cam footage, the lieutenant yelled, “He’s holding a kid, you idiot. Why are we shooting a hundred shots?”
Walter declared:
“I think the decedent dictated the series of events that occurred. The coroner did not say specifically, ‘This shot came from this weapon or this shot came from this weapon.’ Based on body-worn camera, we don’t believe [that the decedent fired a round first, and then officers in response]. The decedent chose to exit the apartment. Approach the officers holding his son with a gun pointed to his son’s chest, after making threats of bodily harm to himself and to his son. The officers had no choice.”
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