A New York man was 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 at around 5:14 a.m. following reports that an infant and a woman had been shot with a crossbow.
According to a preliminary investigation, Patrick D. Proefriedt, 26, had allegedly gotten into an argument with his wife and fired a bolt at her while she was holding their 3-week-old daughter, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
The broadhead bolt hit the baby in the upper torso and exited near her armpit before it hit her mother in the chest.
"Proefriedt allegedly removed the bolt and attempted to stop 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.
Deputies and paramedics tried to save the infant, whom law enforcement identified as Eleanor M. Carey, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother was taken to a local hospital. There was no update on her condition Tuesday.
“This is one of the most heartbreaking and senseless crimes committed in this community in recent memory,” Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said. “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 mud.
He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder and first-degree criminal contempt for violating an order of protection, the sheriff’s office said.
"Proefriedt had a history of domestic incidents with the victim and an active Stay Away Order of Protection in place," it said.
It wasn't immediately clear Tuesday whether Proefriedt has an attorney.
CORRECTION (June 27, 3:02 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the age of the infant who was killed. She was 3 weeks old, not 3 months.
