Fresno Man Charged with Shooting Infant in Head After Girl’s Mother Spurns Him

A Fresno man has been charged with shooting an infant in the head after the girl’s mother rejected him, police say.

Ten-month-old Fayth Percy underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments from her head on June 23 after allegedly being shot by Marcos Antonio Echartea who wanted a relationship with the girl’s mother, the Fresno Bee reported.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer described Echartea as having “no regard for human life, even a baby.”

“I know the parents are broken. They are hurting. We held hands at the hospital and prayed for the baby, and we’re asking that everyone in this community come together and pray for baby Fayth for a complete recovery,” the chief added.

The altercation reportedly happened at a party the child’s mother was attending.

Witnesses say Echartea tried to get the woman to sit on his lap, but she turned away from him. She quickly left the party with another man, and after getting in a car, Echartea reportedly walked up to the car and fired three rounds.

“One of those rounds struck baby Fayth on the side of the head as she was being held by her mother Deziree, who was seated in the right front passenger seat,” Chief Dyer said.

The baby is listed in serious condition.

The chief also noted that Echartea was wanted for another shooting during which a stray bullet pierced the walls of an apartment just missing a one-year-old child.

Echartea is set to be charged with three counts of attempted murder, as well as shooting into an inhabited dwelling, plus assault with a deadly weapon for the previous incident.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.