A 38-year-old Georgia man kidnapped and later fatally shot his one-year-old daughter before taking his own life Sunday morning, according to authorities.
The incident began Saturday night when Darian Bennett went to the house where his daughter, Jaquari Bennett, was staying with her mother and grandmother. Darian then shot and killed the baby’s mother and injured her grandmother before he took the child with him, Newton County Sheriff’s Office said, according to WAGA-TV.
This is the Covington house that two women were shot in and a baby was taken from late last night. Law enforcement says the baby’s mother is dead and the baby’s grandmother is in the hospital. Two other kids were inside at the time of the crimes. @cbs46 pic.twitter.com/RaTqheV7KQ
— Madeline Montgomery (@MadelineTV) June 12, 2022
Authorities learned of the abduction when they received a 911 call at around 11:14 p.m. Saturday, investigators said, according to WAGA-TV.
When Covington police responded to the scene, they found two children, aged 11 and 12, the dead body of Jaquari’s mother, and an older woman suffering from multiple gun wounds, CNN reported. (RELATED: Prominent Rapper Killed In Apparent Home Invasion)
Emergency personnel then evacuated Jaquari’s grandmother via helicopter to the Atlanta Medical Center, where she remains in critical condition, according to CNN.
Following the discoveries at the Covington home, police issued an Amber Alert, asking residents to be on the lookout for a Black Honda Accord.
Levi’s Call (GA’s #AMBERAlert) issued for 1 1/2 y/o Jaquari Bennett on behalf of Newton County S.O.
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) June 12, 2022
The child is believed to be in a black Honda Accord, tag RGK4146 & last seen on Chandler Field Dr, w/ suspect Darian Javaris Bennett. Call 911 or Newton Co S.O. @ 706-717-9915. pic.twitter.com/q0XsfmoCKd
Hours after the alert was issued, 911 received a call from Darian at around 7:30 a.m. Darian was threatening to shoot the baby and himself in the phone call, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office said, according to WAGA-TV.
Police in Riverdale, Georgia found Darian’s vehicle in front of First United Methodist Church, but no one was inside, WGCL-TV reported. Officers arriving at the scene also heard gunshots from behind the building.
Police then found the dead daughter and father near a gazebo in the wooded area, according to WGCL-TV.
“We just don’t know what triggered this,” Sgt. Jack Redlinger of the Newton Sheriff’s office said, according to WAGA-TV. “We don’t know if there are any mental issues. I’m not familiar with any arrests on him yet, so I’m not familiar with his background. Hopefully in a couple days we’ll have that information.”