Vienna, Oneida County (WSYR-TV/AP) - Evidence markers sit in the grass, just feet from scattered children's toys, marking the place where State Police say a father shot and killed his three-month-old son Tuesday morning.
State Police say Adam Theall, 21, shot and killed his three-month-old son Eithen Tuesday morning in front of a state trooper. Theall then turned his weapon toward troopers, who shot and injured him. Theall sustained 14 to 16 shots, according to the State Police. Despite the extent of his wounds, State Police expect Theall to survive.
He was scheduled for surgery at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The police still have not charged him with any new crimes. They say they can't charge him until he is aware enough to understand what he is being charged with. The police are investigating past incidents involving Theall and the child's mother, Jamie Baker.
In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Trooper Francis Coots said that two females had called 911 around 9:00 a.m. to report that Adam Theall, 21, had threatened to kill his child, Eithen Theall, at 3609 Pine Road in the Town of Vienna. The home belongs to Theall's parents.
Theall allegedly shot his child when Trooper Carlo Gennario arrived on scene around 9:30 a.m. "As soon as the trooper got out of his car, he did it," said Coots.
Coots says that shortly after Theall shot his son, two other troopers arrived and they all asked Theall to drop his weapon. When Theall pointed the weapon at the troopers, the three opened fire and he was hit multiple times. "The actions of the troopers today are truly what they're trained to do. Their actions were heroic," said Coots.
Theall was taken by helicopter to University Hospital where he is in critical condition. Eithen was pronounced dead at the hospital at 10:04 a.m.
Two other children under five years old were inside the home on Pine Road, and both were left unharmed in the incident.
According to the police Theall does not live with his parents. Theall lives at 167 Pine Haven Circle in Rome.
Adam Theall had previous encounters with law enforcement, including one last Friday, where police were called to a domestic incident where they say he was taking his anger out on some trees.
Coots said that Theall will likely face a charge of second degree murder.
The baby's mother, Jamie Baker, just lost her brother at the beginning of May. He was killed in a shooting in Rome.
Oneida County gunman had violent criminal history
Theall has been involved in numerous incidents with the police before. In 2005, he violated a family court order and was charged with disorderly conduct. In 2008, he went to jail for three months after being charged with drunk driving, vehicular assault and several traffic violations. He was on probation at the time of Tuesday's incident.
He was also charged with misdemeanor assault in 2009 and, in a separate incident, he was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and assault.
Most recently, police were called to a domestic incident only four days prior to Tuesday's shooting. They say Theall was taking his anger out on some trees.
Theall's behavior didn't endear him to any neighbors either.
"I hate to call people names but he wasn't the greatest," said Barbara Russell, whose home is just a few doors down from Theall's.
Russell had observed Theall getting into fights and arguments several times, including one with her son.
"I kept my doors locked, even during the day and kept an eye on my grandchildren. He'd walk by here every time he'd see my son, he'd start calling him names, challenging him, he wasn't a very stable person," Russell said.
Many of Theall's neighbors say they have seen the police at his mobile home on several occasions several times in the past few years.
Lynn Hogsworth is a childhood friend of Theall's and came to the scene of the shooting shortly after it happened Tuesday morning.
"Like I said, Adam was a good kid as far as I know, he's had problems lately, some issues going on in his life, which we all do," she said.
But these issues, have now had devastating consequences.
From: http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Police-Suspect-in-baby-shooting-shot-14-16-times/wD74yx_pIkmBT_AuzztsfQ.cspx
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