Mother Accuses Las Vegas Police Over Son's Death in Tragic Kidnap Incident
The mother of a three-year-old boy, fatally shot during a confrontation between his father and police in Las Vegas, has publicly blamed law enforcement officers for the tragedy. Raneka Pate, 28, asserts that police gunfire killed her son, Kentre Baker, in the early hours of February 3, contradicting official accounts that the child was shot by his father.
Chilling Details Emerge from Body-Cam Footage
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police released body-camera footage capturing the fatal incident. The video shows officers Jonathan Lo and Damon O'Donnell responding to a 911 call from a friend of Kentre's mother, reporting that Quinton Baker, 28, had attacked Pate in an attempt to kidnap their son. Minutes later, Pate herself called police, urgently stating, "He's threatening to kill me and my son. He's going to hurt my baby."
Assistant Sheriff Bryan Peterson described the scene: "He stopped and said he wanted to see the child's mom, and that he was going to kill himself. Because of the immediate threat to the child, officers discharged their firearm. Simultaneously, Baker discharged his firearm five times." The footage reveals Baker aiming a firearm at Kentre's chest before officers opened fire.
Mother's Outrage and Fundraising Efforts
Raneka Pate has vehemently criticised the police response, telling The Las Vegas Review-Journal, "There was a plethora of bullets... They are trying to play damage control, but they will pay for killing my son." She has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and support the family during their grief, describing Kentre as "pure sunshine in human form" with a "playful, curious spirit."
In the campaign description, Pate shared touching details about her son's love for marine life, noting he often carried sea creatures and named ocean animals during bath time. She signed off as "Kentre's Mommy Shark," highlighting the profound personal loss.
Aftermath and Investigation
Following the shootout, an officer immediately picked up Kentre and ran approximately 300 yards to medics, reassuring the child, "It's alright, buddy. It's okay." Despite efforts, Kentre died at a nearby hospital. Detectives determined he was struck in the head by a bullet fired by his father. One officer was also injured, struck in the foot by Baker's gunfire.
Officers Lo and O'Donnell have been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending a review of the shooting. The incident has sparked emotional responses from the community, with the family's hearts described as "broken beyond words" on the fundraising page.
This tragic case underscores the complexities of police interventions in domestic violence situations, raising questions about protocol and accountability in high-risk scenarios involving children.
