Man Accused of Killing 2 People and Kidnapping an Infant Neutralized by Police, Baby Killed

A dramatic multi-state highway pursuit ended in tragedy as a Louisiana murder suspect was shot and killed by police, resulting in the death of his four-month-old kidnapping victim.

A Louisiana man, Eric Derell Smith, was shot and killed by police after leading highway patrol through a multi-state car highway pursuit. Smith was a suspect in a double homicide and kidnapping of a four-month-old baby.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office began looking for Smith, 30, after they found his ex-girlfriend, Christin Parker, 32, and her nephew, Brandon Parker, 26, dead from gunshot wounds at her apartment. Her baby was also missing from the scene.

Smith reportedly fled the scene in a blue Nissan Altima, kidnapping the baby he shares with the female victim. The 30-year-old suspect then led police on a slow highway chase to Mississippi that was captured on various cameras.

The kidnapped baby was sitting on his father's lap on the driver's seat when shots were fired.

The police tried to stop the suspect slowly as they knew he was traveling with an infant. Video footage shared by WWLTV shows dozens of police vehicles slowly trailing the suspect's car from a safe distance.

Mississippi Highway Patrol remained in pursuit of Smith's vehicle, closing off exits along the highway until they reached the 10-mile marker over the Mississippi state line. The suspect stopped his car in a median where a deadly shootout occurred.

Smith was shot and killed at the scene. The innocent infant was also shot during the gunfire exchange. According to WLOX, a coroner confirmed the kidnapped baby was sitting on his father's lap on the driver's seat when shots were fired.

An autopsy for the baby is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, that will determine who fired the shot that struck the infant.

The infant was rushed to the nearest hospital, Merit Health in Biloxi, before being airlifted to USA Trauma Center in Mobile, Alabama. At the time, police confirmed that the child was in stable condition.

Unfortunately, the infant, now identified as La'Mello Parker, according to WLOX, succumbed to his injuries despite all efforts by medical staff. He passed away Tuesday, May 4.

A source told WLOX that an autopsy for the baby is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, and it will determine who fired the shot that struck the infant.