By Tom Watkins. Nick Valencia and Phil Gast
BRUNSWICK, Georgia (CNN) — Two teenagers were arrested Friday in the shooting death of a 13-month-old boy who was in his stroller, according to police in this coastal city.
The suspects are a 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy, Police Chief Tobe Green told reporters Friday. He said they are being held on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Green identified the older suspect as De’Marquise Elkins, saying he will be treated as an adult in criminal proceedings. The 14-year-old was not identified because of his age.
“We are turning every stone to get a motive,” said Green. A weapon, believed to be a handgun, has not been found, but police expressed confidence they would find it.
Police said they acted on a suspect description given by the baby’s mother, Sherry West, who said she was with her son when the incident occurred.
Officers checked school attendance records to determine who was not in classes Thursday, police spokesman Todd Rhodes said. No other suspects are being sought, he said.
Police offered a $10,000 reward for information and have received more than 30 leads. They were still following them Friday afternoon.
West earlier told reporters that the incident occurred at 9 a.m. Thursday as she was walking home from the post office, pushing her son Antonio in a stroller.
“A boy approached me and told me he wanted my money, and I told him I didn’t have any money. And he said, ‘Give me your money or I’m going to kill you and I’m going to shoot your baby and kill your baby,’ and I said, “I don’t have any money and don’t kill my baby.”
The boy tried to grab her purse and opened fire when she said tried to tell him she had no money, West said, grazing her head. She said the boy then shot her in the leg.
West continued, “And then, all of a sudden, he walked over and he shot my baby in the face.”
West said she tried to perform CPR on her son and that the police took over when they arrived, but to no avail. “We lost him,” she said.
During the incident, the smaller of the two boys was hiding behind the larger one, she said. “I don’t know whether it was his brother or a friend.”
West had said she hopes the boys will receive the maximum sentence possible. “If they can use a gun like an adult, then they can be charged like an adult,” she said. “I want to see lethal injection or at least life in prison. This child did nothing to him. He was innocent and helpless.”
Though no one has reported seeing the shooting, several people called 911 after hearing it, police spokesman Todd Rhodes said earlier.
The city’s website describes Brunswick, with a population of about 15,000, as “one of the most unique, historic and visually stunning places in the world.” It boasts 19th century Victorian-style homes, century-old oaks and magnolia tree-lined streets.
– CNN’s Nick Valencia reported from Brunswick and Tom Watkins and Phil Gast reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN’s Chandler Friedman, Jim Kavanagh and Dave Alsup contributed to this report.
