A Philadelphia woman is charged with shooting a seven-month-old baby in the leg during a dispute over a $100 drug debt.
Surveillance footage captured the horrific scene on Thursday, July 18, on the 4000 block of Meridian Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
According to Philadelphia Police Chief Scott Small, the baby was in a stroller with his parents when Dominique Billups approached and opened fire with a handgun.
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Police say Billups targeted the parents (both teenagers) and their baby. The video shows the father fleeing as Billups approached. She shot at the teenage mom, but missed and hit the baby in the leg. The baby is listed in stable condition.
Police caught up with the parents several blocks away from the crime scene. They said they fled because they both had warrants.
NBC10 spoke to a witness, who wished to remain anonymous.
“When I found out the baby was 7 months old and both parents said they have warrants, they got out of the car and I took the baby. I just felt like I had to protect this child. It was overwhelming. It was scary. This person came up with no remorse and just fired and walked away like nothing happened,” he said.
Police quickly identified Billups and arrested her.
Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum of the Philadelphia Police Department said the dispute was over bags of weed.
“This appears to stem from a $100 narcotics debt,” Lt. Rosenbaum explained.
“It’s sad, you see that video, she literally points the gun at the mother of the baby – who is also a juvenile – and fires. Luckily she missed, and that’s probably when the baby got hit.”
