A New York man has been arrested and charged with murder after his 3-week-old infant daughter was shot with a crossbow Monday morning, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies responded to a home in Colesville around 5:14 a.m. following reports that a baby and a woman had been shot with a crossbow.
According to a preliminary investigation, Patrick D. Proefriedt, 26, allegedly argued with his wife and shot her with lightning while she was holding their 3-week-old daughter, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
The broadhead projectile struck the baby in the upper torso and exited near her armpit before striking her mother in the chest.
“Proefriedt allegedly removed the deadbolt and attempted to prevent the woman from calling 911, then fled the scene in a red 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck before responding deputies arrived,” the sheriff’s office said.
Officers and paramedics tried to save the baby, whom police identified as Eleanor M. Carey, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother was taken to a local hospital. There were no updates on her condition Tuesday.
“This is one of the most heartbreaking and senseless crimes committed in this community in recent memory,” said Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar. “Our thoughts are with the family of this innocent 3-week-old girl, Eleanor Carey.”
Proefriedt was found in the woods less than a mile from the home, authorities said. His car had gotten stuck in the mud.
He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and first-degree criminal contempt for violating a protective order, the sheriff’s office said.
“Proefriedt had a history of domestic incidents with the victim and an active stay-away protective order,” he said.
It was not immediately clear Tuesday if Proefriedt has an attorney.
CORRECTION (June 27, 3:02 pm ET): An earlier version of this article misreported the age of the baby who was killed. He was 3 weeks old, not 3 months old.
