6-month-old baby hospitalized after being shot multiple times by father during hostage standoff, police say

SURPRISE, AZ. (KPHO/Gray News) - A 6-month-old baby boy in Arizona is currently hospitalized after his father allegedly shot him several times during an armed home standoff with law enforcement.

Authorities said it all started when 51-year-old Todd Christopher Marchetti broke into a home around 3 a.m. and held a woman and baby Jaxson hostage, KPHO reported.

Police said the woman and the 6-month-old baby lived at the home, but Marchetti, the father of the child, did not.

Somehow, the mother escaped around 11:30 a.m. and went to a construction crew nearby and told them what happened. However, Marchetti and Jaxson were still inside the home when the police arrived.

While at the scene, officers heard gunshots.

One officer responded by firing a gun toward the house and another officer forced their way into the home and found the baby shot multiple times, KPHO reported.

Police said they didn’t see or talk to the suspect but rescued the baby from inside the house.

Jaxson was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition, but police said he should survive. He underwent surgery for injuries to his lower body on Friday afternoon.

Officials said Marchetti’s remains were later found in the home, which caught fire after an hours-long standoff.

Police said it appeared he shot himself in the head.

The cause of death is still pending the results of a medical examiner’s report.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Jaxson and his mother as they recover during this time.

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