Details scarce in baby's gunshot death

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A man believed to have shot and killed a baby girl during a domestic dispute was arrested Tuesday afternoon although police have released no details about him or his relationship to the child.

"We do have a male subject in custody at this point, but still very early in our investigation," Officer Nadine Hamby said late in the afternoon. "We still need to find out what happened, who's responsible for the shooting."

It was after 3 p.m. when someone called 911 to report the child had been shot during an argument involving the child's father and mother. It is not yet known who made the call.

Police closed off the area around the home in the 300 block of General Chennault Street NE near Wyoming Boulevard and Copper Avenue.

Cathy Salazar said she was with the baby's grandmother when the shooting happened.  When they tried to go back to the home they were met by police.

The grandmother lived in the home with her teenage daughters and grandchild, Salazar said.

"She (the grandmother) used to be married to my cousin," she added.

Salazar said the child was almost a year old.  Police put the baby's age at 9-10 months old.

Josia Austin said he was on the porch with his mother when members from Albuquerque Police Department SWAT team showed up in his neighborhood.

"We just seen the SWAT team come to our house, and they told us to go inside and lock the doors," he said. "Then they went in our backyards."

Austin said he's used to seeing police cars in his neighborhood, but this is the first time he's heard of a shooting victim this young.

"Yeah that's just tragic," Austin said. "Especially with a gun involved and stuff and a baby dying.  It's just sad to hear."

Police also have not said whether they believe the shooting was accidental or intentional.